British socialite fined £30,000 but avoids jail for shooting police chief dead

31 May 2023 , 20:51

1187     0

Jasmine Hartin pictured handling a gun at a shooting range in an image nine years ago (Image: Facebook)

The former "daughter-in-law" of billionaire Tory Lord Michel Ashcroft has been fined £30,000 for shooting a Belizean police chief - but has avoided a prison sentence.

Jasmine Hartin was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of community services and was told she has to record a video about the dangers of "drinking and making foolish decisions".

Judge Ricardo Sandcroft disqualified Hartin from possession of any licence for two years.

After the sentence was passed, the superintendent’s eldest daughter, Maya Jemmott, spoke for the first time.

She said: "I'm not really a hateful person and I don't hate her, I don't honestly if I am to be completely honest I do not hate her.

Double killer who slit girlfriend's throat within weeks of release jailed

“I just I don't ever feel like I will be able to forgive her because she took a vital part of my life, she took my dad away from me and there are moments in my life that whether we were talking whether we were just fighting I wanted him to experience it.”

Henry Jemmott, a police superintendent, who was was shot dead in Belize (REX/Shutterstock)

Last month, Hartin, 34, entered her plea at the Supreme Court in Belize City, where she had been due to go on trial for manslaughter over Henry Jemmott’s death — in the town of San Pedro in May 2021.

After pleading guilty, the Canadian socialite said: "I just want Henry's family to have peace now and I want this whole thing behind all of us so we can heal."

Mr Jemmott's widow Romit Wilson, 39, criticised Hartin's behaviour throughout the court case, accusing the socialite of conducting an "international PR campaign".

Compensation for the family has been left to the civil courts in Belize to determine.

In Belizean law, a defendant who enters a guilty plea does not face jail time but a fine.

Hartin was charged with manslaughter last summer (REX/Shutterstock)

The defendant was spared jail despite killing the police officer

Following the sentence, Hartin hopes she will now be allowed to leave Belize to begin fighting to be reunited with her two children she shares with Andrew Ashcroft, the son of partner of Conservative grandee Lord Ashcroft

Hartin was found on a dock near where the body of Superintendent Jemmott was discovered, the court heard.

According to police documents, the pair, who were friends, were “socialising” at the end of the pier when security heard a “loud bang” and raced to the scene at 12:45am.

There they found Hartin “covered in red substance as that of blood” as Jemmott’s lifeless body floated on his back 30ft from the shore.

Killer dances in his victim's house with twerking model who later turned on him

Police Commissioner Chester C Williams told local media that a single gunshot was heard "and upon investigating, police found the female on a pier".

It added officers retrieved "(1) Glock 17 Pistol …. Along with (1) magazine containing (1) live 9mm round S&B (1) live 9mm rounds S&B found on the dock and (1) Expended shell S&B found inside the barrel of the pistol".

Jasmine Hartin is pictured with her then-husband Andrew Ashcroft (Facebook)

Speaking in the documentary One Bullet in Belize, the Daily Mail reported that Hartin claimed Supt Jemmott invited her and her partner Andrew, 44, for a drink.

However, her partner, the son of the former Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, didn’t go, instead allegedly deciding to have an early night.

Hartin joined the police chief alone for a late-night drink.

She claimed they were just friends, even though her relationship with Andrew had fallen apart.

Prince Harry talks to Lord Ashcroft (PA WIRE)

Hartin said that Supt Jemmot suggested for the second time in a few days that she get acquainted with a gun, following an attack a few weeks prior.

Despite her claims of innocence, Supt Jemmott’s sister believes that the Canadian socialite shot her brother “execution style".

Hartin described in the documentary how, when down at the pier alone together, she handled the officer’s gun and loaded and reloaded what she said was an empty ammunition magazine

Whilst she was doing so, she claims that Supt Jemmott had the bullets on the other side of him and she repeatedly stressed that she thought the magazine was empty.

Christopher Bucktin