CONVICTED killer Jack Shepherd, who handed himself in to police in Georgia last week after spending six months on the run, intends to contest extradition proceedings, a court has heard.

Shepherd, 31, a web designer from Abergavenny, appeared at Tbilisi City Court on Friday – six months after he was convicted of killing Charlotte Brown, 24, during a speedboat date on the Thames.

Assisted by an interpreter as he sat in the dock, the court heard Shepherd, who arrived in Georgia in March last year, speak of his regret at missing his trial.

One of his defence lawyers said Shepherd should not be extradited because he was warned in a phone call his life might be in danger if he goes to a UK jail.

Shepherd will remain in custody in Georgia for the next three months ahead of extradition proceedings.

As he addressed the court, Shepherd – who has been working in Georgia – said he greatly regretted going out on the speedboat and that the accident had left him depressed and suicidal.

He said this was why he had been unable to speak about what occurred that night, and further expressed his regret at missing the trial.

Shepherd said he wished he had sat down with Ms Brown's family to explain what had happened, and said he had handed himself in to bring closure to the accident and its consequences.

The court also heard that Shepherd had alcohol dependency and wanted to conduct the appeal against his conviction from Georgia.

He surrendered himself at a police station in Tbilisi on January 23. Wearing a long beard and a smile, he was flanked by lawyers and gave an interview proclaiming his innocence.

Ms Brown, 24, from Clacton-on-Sea, died after plunging into the icy waters of the River Thames when Shepherd's boat crashed during a champagne-laden date in London in December 2015.

Shepherd, originally from Exeter, went on the run before his trial at the Old Bailey and jurors found him guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.

He was sentenced to six years imprisonment but remained at liberty.

The Crown Prosecution Service said prosecutors were currently "consulting with the authorities in Georgia to progress [the] extradition request".