Jack Shepherd latest: Justice Secretary brands death threat sent to speedboat killer's lawyer as 'completely unacceptable'

Speedboat killer: Jack Shepherd
AP
Bonnie Christian29 January 2019
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A death threat sent to the lawyer of speedboat killer Jack Shepherd has been slammed as “completely unacceptable” by Justice Secretary.

A letter written to Richard Egan, Shepherd’s British lawyer, has been passed to police.

It tells Mr Egan to “remember Jo Cox,” the Labour MP murdered by far right extremist Thomas Mair, and talks of stabbing, bombing, features a swastika and the words “Heil Hitler”.

Conservative MP David Gauke tweeted he was “very concerned” about the death threats, adding: “such behaviour is completely unacceptable.”

Former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, says the letter represents an attack on the rule of law.

The BBC reports Mr Egan, a defence solicitor representing Shepherd, has received a “steady stream” of abusive and threatening letters, emails and texts, which include accusing him of having blood on his hands.

The most recent letter, which was sent to his office, gave him 48 hours to state the he was “no longer supporting or providing legal aid” to Shepherd.

“You have been followed - nice house,” the letter read.

“Now accidents happen, people get stabbed in London, pets get poisoned, children run over.

Jack Shepherd, who has been in hiding in Georgia handed himself into police last week.
Reuters

“Be warned we (EDF) will petrol bomb your nice office.”

The letter is signed "Heil Hitler" alongside an image of a swastika.

Mr Egan told the BBC this letter was of a "different order" to others he has received.

"It threatens my family. It suggests that I have been followed and that the writer knows where I live and where I work.

"There is a specific threat to firebomb my firm, endangering the lives of my colleagues."

Charlotte Brown who was killed in a speedboat crash on the River Thames whilst on a date with Jack Shepherd.
Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

In a statement, police said: "An allegation of malicious communication was raised to Met Police on Friday, 25 January.

"The victim received threats to his life through post.

"Officers from Central North CID are currently investigating."

She died while on a date with Shepherd on the River Thames in December 2015 after the speedboat they were in crashed.

Mr Egan told the BBC that in his 25-years of acting in some of the most high-profile cases before the criminal courts, he had never known a reaction as fevered as the one in this case.

Shepherd had been in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi since March and was absent throughout his trial.

He handed himself in to Georgian police last week and, following an initial hearing, has been remanded in custody pending a full extradition hearing. His Georgian lawyers have indicated that there are grounds to fight extradition.

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