SOCIALITE CHARGED
JASMINE Hartin, the daughter-in-law of British billionaire Lord Ashcroft, has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a Belize cop.
Hartin, 32, is facing manslaughter by negligence charges after the body of cop Henry Jemmott was found floating in the sea near San Pedro, Belize, on Friday.
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Jemmott, 42, was reportedly shot while drinking with Lord Ashcroft's daughter-in-law and had a head wound like an assassination, his sister, Marie Jemmott Tzul, told the .
She added that her brother had known Hartin, but that there was , even though they appear to have been drinking alone together on a pier before the shooting.
Hartin told authorities that she was giving Jemmott, a police superintendent, , according to local media.
The Canadian socialite then alleged that the Glock accidentally went off and shot him in the back of the head, according to sources.
- Henry Jemmott's lifeless body found floating near San Pedro, Belize.
- Jasmine Hartin is facing manslaughter by negligence charges.
- Hartin was allegedly .
- Hartin had "blood on her arms and clothes."
- The cop had a head wound like an "assassination," his sister says.
Hartin claims Jemmott then fell on her and she pushed him off, leading to his lifeless body falling from the pier to the water.
Jemmott suffered a single gunshot wound to the head and Hartin was reportedly "hysterical" when she was found at the scene of the shooting.
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Police in Belize said that a single gunshot was heard - and officers then found the woman on the pier with "blood on her arms and her clothing."
Hartin's attorney, Godfrey Smith, told reporters after she was charged that her bail had been denied.
"The charge is manslaughter by negligence. Bail has been denied. We appeal to the Supreme Court as is normal," he said.
After Hartin was taken into custody on Friday, police said that she was "not helping" as they tried to investigate what happened.
"When she was detained last night she was not co-operating," Commissioner Chester Williams said after her arrest.
"She stated that she needed to have her attorney present in order for her to say what she needs to say, and it’s her right by virtue of the constitution, but that raises a red flag.
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"The situation is such that it does require an explanation from her," he said.
Hartin and Jemmott were supposedly friends, police said.
"From what we have been made to understand, they were drinking. From investigation, they were alone on the pier, and yes, they were both fully clothed," Williams said.
Hartin left a hotel she operates with her husband, Alaia, late Thursday night and met up with Jemmott on the jetty, according to Williams.
The pair were also apparently breaking the island's 10pm to 5am Covid curfew.
Hartin, a mom of two, is currently being detained in a San Pedro jail.
Smith, Lord Ashcroft's long-time lawyer and the nation's former attorney general, was first seen visiting her on Friday afternoon.
Lord Ashcroft, who lives in Belize but remains active in British politics, has not yet commented on the incident, according to .
Jasmine and husband Andrew head a luxury hotel company in Belize.
Andrew, 43, is the youngest of Lord Ashcroft's three children from his first marriage and is a citizen of Belize, where he lives and works with Jasmine.
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The punishment for manslaughter in Belize could be 25 years in prison, but the socialite may also get off with a fine of around $20,000 Belizean dollars.
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Sources told the that Hartin would likely be facing a maximum of five years behind bars.
Family members said that Jemmott was a father of five and that he was heading for a promotion to senior superintendent with Belize Police.
Daughter-in-law of billionaire Lord Ashcroft is ‘refusing to answer cops questions’ after arrest over officer’s death
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