Socialite was ‘very drunk’ when she shot dead a police chief in Belize, her estranged partner claims
Socialite was ‘very drunk’ when she shot dead a police chief in Belize after drinking ‘eight wines and shots’ at a party, claims her estranged partner and youngest son of Lord Ashcroft
- Jasmine Hartin ‘drunk’ the night she shot police chief, ex-partner says
Socialite Jasmine Hartin was “very drunk” the night she accidentally shot and killed a Belize police chief, her estranged partner claims.
Hartin, 33, has always maintained that although she had a few drinks, she was not drunk the night Superintendent Henry Jemmott was killed.
But her former partner Andrew Ashcroft – the youngest son of Tory-grandee Lord Ashcroft – has claimed his children’s mother was “drinking heavily” before the May 2021 shooting. he said she had as many as eight wines and some shots at a party on the night of the incident.
Hartin, who has pleaded guilty to negligent homicide over the death, vehemently denied the charges last night, saying there was no evidence to support Mr Ashcroft’s claims.
The former couple, who have twins together, ran Mr. Ashcroft’s luxury Grand Colony Resort in San Pedro on the holiday island of Ambergris Caye together at the time of the shooting. They separated shortly after Hartin’s arrest and are involved in a bitter custody battle.
Socialite Jasmine Hartin was ‘very drunk’ the night she accidentally shot and killed a Belizean police chief, her estranged partner claims
Her former partner Andrew Ashcroft (pictured) – the youngest son of Tory-grandee Lord Ashcroft – claims his children’s mother was ‘drinking heavily’ before the May 2021 shooting
Hartin has admitted to shooting Chief Inspector Henry Jemmott (pictured) when his gun accidentally went off as she wielded it as they had drinks together on a pier in May 2021
Ashcroft, 45, said in his statement that they attended a party at the Sunset Lounge on May 28, 2021 until about 11 p.m.
“Jasmine had been drinking heavily and had started consuming alcohol while getting ready to attend the party and continued to do so at the party,” he said. “While she was doing her hair and makeup…she had about two to three glasses of wine with her hair and makeup artist. When we arrived at the party around 7pm, Jasmine continued to drink alcohol and had at least another four to five drinks. I saw her taking pictures.’
Mr Ashcroft said when the couple got back to the hotel, Hartin asked him to join her for drinks with her boyfriend, Mr Jemmott, who was staying at the resort.
“Jasmine seemed very drunk at the time,” he added, saying he declined and offered to stay with the kids before going to bed.
Mr Ashcroft, 45, (left, with Hartin) said in his statement that they attended a party at the Sunset Lounge until about 11pm on 28 May 2021
The father described the moment he was awakened by staff to be notified of the shooting at 1am.
“I saw Jasmine standing in front of Mata Rocks Pier about 100 feet away, covered in blood.”
Hartin’s spokesperson Louisa Chiaramonte strongly denied the allegations on her behalf. She said: “In none of the official disclosures or police statements did it mention that Ms Hartin was drunk in any way, no blood alcohol tests were done because they (the police) did not see any sign of drunkenness.
“These statements by Andrew Ashcroft were not accepted as evidence by the court and were submitted at the last minute, clearly with the intended strategy of then leaking them to the media to further defame and defame Ms. Hartin’s reputation.”
Hartin insists Mr Jemmott’s death was a ‘terrible accident’. He was shot after offering to teach her how to use a Glock-17 for protection. Hartin said the gun went off when she tried to hand him the magazine.