A speedboat that capsized, killing a young woman on a first date, has been taken into the Old Bailey in what could be a legal first.
Web designer Jack Shepherd bought the red 14ft Fletcher Arrowflyte GTO from Gumtree to "pull women", the court has heard.
In December 2015, he had been trying to impress Charlotte Brown, 23, with a trip past the Houses of Parliament after a meal at The Shard.
But after he handed her the wheel on their return journey, the boat hit a log and capsized, pitching the pair into the cold water of the River Thames.
Shepherd, 30, who is originally from Exeter, is on trial in his absence charged with Miss Brown's manslaughter by gross negligence, which he denies.
The prosecution allege that the 75-horsepower vessel, which had been moored beside his Shepherd's houseboat in Hammersmith, had a number of defects and was speeding before the crash.
On Monday (July 9) the speedboat was transported on a trailer into the Old Bailey car park through the rear gates to be produced as a court exhibit.
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Jurors were taken from court 10 to inspect it outside, accompanied by bewigged lawyers and Judge Richard Marks QC, as well as members of the press.
Judge Marks told them: "Feel free to look around and have a good look."
Earlier, they heard from Port authority surveyor Andrew Thomas who compiled a report on the unnamed speedboat.
Mr Thomas pointed out that the four-person 1980s' vessel had impact damage to the starboard bow.
He said the cockpit windscreen showed general deterioration and the plywood seat bases had been water-damaged over time.
The kill cord on the boat was "poorly maintained" and had no attachment, jurors heard.
Mr Thomas also said the steering wheel had a "degree of play", giving it a "good deal of wobble backwards and forwards".
The life jackets were still tucked into a container at the front of the boat, where they had been stored at the time of the crash, the court was told.
Jurors were shown a video of tests on the water, in which the boat reached a speed of 29.9 knots at 75% throttle.
The speed limit on the stretch of the Thames where the accident happened is 12 knots.
Mr Thomas told jurors that tests showed there was a "pronounced pull to starboard".
The master had to put in "significant effort" to keep straight, he said, adding: "It became increasingly pronounced with more speed."
He added: "We effectively ended up doing doughnuts - going around in tight circles."
