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Speedboat death accused 'smelled of alcohol' after rescue Speedboat death accused let date drive 'to show off'
(about 5 hours later)
A man accused of killing his date when his speedboat capsized "smelled quite heavily of alcohol" after he was pulled from the River Thames, a court heard. A man accused of killing his date in a crash on the Thames told police he let her drive in order "to show off", a court heard.
Jack Shepherd, 30, of Paddington, is accused of Charlotte Brown's manslaughter after they both fell from his boat on 8 December 2015.Jack Shepherd, 30, of Paddington, is accused of Charlotte Brown's manslaughter after they both fell from his boat on 8 December 2015.
A police officer told the Old Bailey Mr Shepherd was shocked and "seemed quite intoxicated" after he was rescued. In a police interview he said he took women out in the boat in a bid to "pull them", the Old Bailey heard.
Mr Shepherd denies manslaughter by gross negligence.Mr Shepherd denies manslaughter by gross negligence.
He was found clinging to the bow of the boat after it capsized near Wandsworth Bridge just before midnight, the court heard. He was interviewed as a witness within hours of being pulled from the river by rescuers.
Mr Shepherd was handed over to police, despite begging the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to let him help find Ms Brown, 23, who had been thrown into the water. The court was shown a video of the interview, in which Mr Shepherd said he had invited 10 girlfriends back to his houseboat in Hammersmith in the year he had lived there.
Giving evidence, PC Liam Winter said: "[Mr Shepherd] was confused, seemed to be suffering from shock. He seemed quite intoxicated. Of those, the majority of them had been out in his speedboat, which is moored beside it, the jury heard.
"Mr Shepherd was in a very poor state. He was soaked through, shivering badly, clearly drunk and smelled quite heavily of alcohol. Mr Shepherd became emotional as he told how on a return trip past the Houses of Parliament, 23-year-old Ms Brown became "insistent" that she have a go at driving.
"His words were slurred noticeably. He said 'Is she all right? Have you found her?"' He told police he "wanted to sleep with her basically" so let her take the wheel.
The court heard the boat had been speeding before it collided with a log and tipped over while Ms Brown was at the wheel. "I was just trying to show off about having a speedboat like I thought it would impress her," Mr Shepherd added.
The court heard the boat had been speeding before it hit a log and tipped over while Ms Brown was at the wheel.
Mr Shepherd said she was "probably" driving at "full throttle" and "maybe steering slightly erratically", but he felt it was "exciting" rather than being afraid.
'Hazy memory'
He said: "I got to a stretch I considered to be safe because it was quite straight and long so we swapped over.
"My memory is quite hazy about the whole thing because we drank heavily.
"The last thing I remember is just hanging on to the boat. It was upside down at this point. I didn't know where Charli was."
He ended his interview by saying: "I regret profusely what happened."
The couple had been drinking wine at The Shard and allegedly took a bottle of champagne on the boat, jurors were told.The couple had been drinking wine at The Shard and allegedly took a bottle of champagne on the boat, jurors were told.
Neither was wearing a life jacket and the boat had defects to its steering and visibility was impaired, it is alleged. The court has heard neither Mr Shepherd nor Ms Brown were wearing life jackets.
RNLI helmsman Ian Owen said Mr Shepherd was "anxious to stay with us to find [Ms Brown]. He was quite adamant in assisting us with searching". After being rescued Mr Shepherd was handed over to police and an officer said he "seemed quite intoxicated".
Mr Owen told the court he had made it clear that would not happen and handed Mr Shepherd over to police, before setting off again to look for Ms Brown. The trial, which is being conducted in Mr Shepherd's absence, continues.
She was "unresponsive" when taken out of the water and was given CPR on the boat, he added.
The trial continues.