Partner of British billionaire's son charged in shooting death of top cop in Belize
BELIZE CITY -- The Supreme Court of Belize has denied bail for the longtime partner of a British billionaire's son who's been charged in the fatal shooting of a top police officer in the Central American country.
A judge decided Wednesday to reject a bail application for
Jasmine Hartin and adjourn the matter until next week, after Belize's head
prosecutor submitted an objection to the court on the grounds that she
presented a "serious flight risk." The judge has requested that
prosecutors submit a formal objection with full arguments by Friday, while the
defense team has until Monday to respond.
The next bail hearing is scheduled for June 9. Hartin, a
Canadian citizen who lives in Belize with her family, will remain in custody at
least until then at Belize Central Prison in the village of Hattieville, west
of the capital, Belize City.
Hartin's attorney, Godfrey Smith, told reporters outside the
courthouse on Wednesday that the judge also expressed "disapproval of the
kind of media publicity" that the case is receiving and said he has
"no intention of contributing to that."
Hartin had been denied bail by a lower court in the resort
town of San Pedro on Monday, after she was charged with manslaughter by
negligence. Her lawyer then appealed the decision to the supreme court in
Belize City.
The charge stems from the death of Henry Jemmott, superintendent
of the Belize Police Department, whose body was discovered early Friday in the
water off a San Pedro pier with one apparent gunshot wound behind his right
ear, according to Chester Williams, commissioner of the Belize Police
Department.
"The injury is not consistent with suicide, and the
manner of death is homicide," Williams told reporters on Monday.
Hartin "was somewhat in an emotional state walking
herself on the pier" when police found her near Jemmott's body with
"what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing," Williams
said during a press conference on Friday.
"We believe that she is to some extent affected by
it," Williams told reporters.
Police recovered Jemmott's service weapon from the scene.
The incident "seems rather personal and not an attack on law
enforcement," Williams said. Investigators believe the pair were friends
and had been drinking. They were alone together on the pier and were both found
fully clothed, according to Williams.
"We owe it to him to ensure that we investigate
properly," he said.
Hartin is the director of lifestyle and experience at Alaia
Belize, a boutique resort in San Pedro run by her husband, real estate
developer Andrew Ashcroft, in partnership with hotel giant Marriott
International, according to Hartin's biography on the resort's website and her
LinkedIn profile. Andrew Ashcroft also referred to Hartin as his wife during
the resort's grand opening last month, but it was unclear whether they are
legally married. The couple have two children.
Andrew Ashcroft is the youngest son of Lord Michael
Ashcroft, a major financial backer of the Conservative Party in the United
Kingdom and its former deputy chairman. Lord Michael Ashcroft, who holds dual
U.K. and Belizean citizenship, has an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion,
according to Forbes.
Belize's police commissioner said the Canadian socialite
will receive "no special treatment."
"Her social stature should not affect how she is to be
treated or should not allow her to be treated different than any ordinary
person who has committed a crime," Williams told local media on Tuesday.
Jemmott's family said they are desperate for answers. He
leaves behind five children and a fiancee.
"What happened? We don't know, I don't know,"
Jemmott's sister, Marie Jemmott Tzul, told reporters on Monday. "So we are
depending on the police investigation to set the record straight for us."
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