A speedboat that capsized, killing a young woman on a first date, has been displayed at the Old Bailey in what could be a legal first.

Jack Shepherd, a web designer, bought the red 14ft Fletcher Arrowflyte GTO to “pull women”, the court previously 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 waters of the River Thames.

Shepherd, 30, who is originally from Exeter, is on trial in his absence charged with Brown’s manslaughter by gross negligence, which he denies.

The speedboat belonging to Jack Shepherd, pictured, was poorly maintained, the court was told. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

The prosecution alleges the 75-horsepower vessel, which had been moored beside Shepherd’s houseboat in Hammersmith, had a number of defects and had been speeding before the crash.

On Monday the speedboat was transported on a trailer into the Old Bailey car park to be produced as a court exhibit. Jurors were taken from the courtroom to inspect it, accompanied by lawyers and the judge, Richard Marks QC, as well as reporters.

Earlier, the court heard from the port authority surveyor Andrew Thomas, who compiled a report on the speedboat.

Thomas pointed out 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 damaged by water over time.

The kill cord on the boat was poorly maintained and had no attachment, jurors heard. Thomas also said the steering wheel had a “degree of play”, giving it a “good deal of wobble backwards and forwards”.

The lifejackets were still tucked away 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.

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.”