ComPol Williams on Jemmott Post Mortem, Updating the Family and the Investigation
Chester Williams
During the weekly press briefing today in Belmopan, the first topic of discussion was death of Superintendent Jermott. Police Commissioner Chester Williams ran the briefing himself and spoke about the post mortem, his updates to the family and the investigation into the death at San Pedro.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The post mortem revealed that the injury is not consistent with suicide. And the manner of death is homicide. Which means, homicide simply means, the killing of a human being by another human being. The issue that whether it is murder or manslaughter. Murder is the intentional killing of a human being by unlawful harm. And so, one of the things that you will have to prove for murder is that of intent. Manslaughter on the other hand, is where you actually kill someone but you have some, you call it partial excuse or partial defense. In law, that will reduce the murder to manslaughter.”
Andrea Polanco
“Sir, last week you mentioned that Miss Jasmine Hartin wasn’t cooperating with police, has she given police any valuable information? For this matter to move forward?”
Chester Williams
“Yes, she provided a statement, under caution.”
Reporter
“Sir, do police have a clear indication as to what happened that night, in terms of the sequence of events?”
Chester Williams
“We cannot say we have a clear understanding of what happened, because we were not there. The only two persons who could have said that to us would have been the deceased and Miss Hartin. You will know that the deceased is dead. He cannot speak for himself. Dead man carries no tale. Miss Hartin had given her version of what she said transpired. And so, now it is a matter for the DPP to decide how we proceed.”
Andrea Polanco
“So you are not at liberty to share what she said transpired?”
Chester Williams
“No, I am not going to go into the content of her statement. Well I spoke with the immediate family, I met with them. I expressed a wealth of condolences to them from the department and the Ministry. And I also assured them that from a police standpoint, we are doing all we can to ensure that justice is received. I also gave them an update of the investigation and what the accused person have said in her statement. I gave them a brief synopsis of that because as family members they have a right to know what she have said. And where we are with the investigation.”
Andrea Polanco
“Have they expressed that they have confidence in the police to deal with this matter transparently?”
Chester Williams
“Of course. They have no reason not to doubt that ability. Mr. Jemmott was a police officer and his family are people who have always been around police. And as a matter of fact he has a sister who is also a police officer. Miss Marie Tzul she used to be in and out of the Dangriga police station, she worked very closely with us. And so she is fully aware in particular that we will do what we should do to ensure that justice is served.”
The Commissioner would not comment on whether or not there was a possibility the gun involved was discharged by accident, or whether or not it may have been a case of self defense. He says Superintendent Jemott’s funeral has tentatively been set for June twelfth in Dangriga.
