Tory grandee’s daughter-in-law charged after police officer shot dead in Belize

The daughter-in-law of Conservative grandee Lord Ashcroft has been charged with manslaughter by negligence after a police superintendent was shot dead in Belize. 

Jasmine Hartin, the partner of Michael Ashcroft’s son Andrew, was found on a dock near where superintendent Henry Jemmott’s body was discovered in the town of San Pedro early on Friday.

Her lawyer Godfrey Smith told reporters late on Monday that she had been denied bail and will be remanded in prison.

“The charge is manslaughter by negligence,” he said. “Bail has been denied. We appeal to the Supreme Court, as is normal.”

Mr Smith said Hartin’s lawyers would have a statement Tuesday.

She is expected to be taken from San Pedro to Belize City tomorrow for remand to prison.

Police Commissioner Chester C Williams told local media that Hartin avoided making a statement, preferring to wait for the presence of her lawyer

He said a single gunshot was heard “and upon investigating, police found the female on a pier, and she had what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing.”

“A firearm was also seen on the pier that has been retrieved and we have learned that the firearm belonged to the police and was assigned to Mr. Jemmott,” he told a news conference Friday.

Hartin’s father-in-law Lord Ashcroft is a former deputy chairman of Britain’s Conservative Party and a major financial backer.

He also has Belizean citizenship and was once its representative before the United Nations.

Police Commissioner Mr Williams added that the incident “seems rather personal and not an attack”.

“From what we know is that they are friends. 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.”

He said Hartin “was somewhat in an emotional state walking herself on the pier. We believe that she is to some extent affected by it.”

LinkedIn accounts indicate that Hartin and her husband were connected with a local resort in Belize.

Mr Jemmott’s sister, Marie Jemmott Tzul, told 7 News Belize television that her brother loved life and was the father of five children.

“The investigation can say something else but I think they killed him,” she said.

She added that the only information the family had was that he was with a woman they did not know and his body was found in the water.