Jasmine Hartin Remanded to Central Prison
The story is garnering international media attention and causing Belizeans to put forth all sorts of theories about the case that seems straight out of a murder mystery. But while the speculation continues and the foreign media join local reporters in the hunt for interviews and footage, tonight the woman who has been questioned by police since Friday and formally charged on Monday, Canadian Jasmine Hartin is spending her first night on remand at the Belize Central Prison. This afternoon, Hartin was moved from the San Pedro Police Station and News Five was following the high security transfer. Duane Moody reports.
Jasmine Hartin
Duane Moody, Reporting
She was officially arrested and charged on Monday for manslaughter by negligence in connection with the shooting death of Superintendent Henry Jemmott. This afternoon, thirty-two-year-old Jasmine Hartin was transferred from a holding cell in the island town of San Pedro to a dock on the lagoon side of Ambergris Caye. There she boarded a private boat under police guard and was ferried to Belize City. She arrived at a pier used primarily by fishers on Marine Parade to a waiting prison van that whisked her to the Belize Central Prison in Hattieville where she is spending her first night behind bars.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I support the decision made by the D.P.P. She is the expert in this field. I respect her as a person and as a prosecutor and her ability to do her job. And I have every confidence in her.”
Hartin reportedly pulled the trigger to Jemmott’s service firearm and the fatal shot caught the career police officer to the back of the right ear; his body was discovered in the sea near a pier in front of a beach resort south of the town. After a perusal of the evidence file and post-mortem report, the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the Canadian national be charged with manslaughter by negligence. While a bailable offense, the prosecutor was able to argue successfully and bail was not given to Hartin.
Godfrey Smith
Godfrey Smith, Attorney for Jasmine Hartin [File: May 31st, 2021]
“The charge is manslaughter by negligence. Bail has been denied; we appeal to the Supreme Court as is normal.”
That was yesterday and today, despite his efforts, the attorney was unable to secure Supreme Court bail, so Hartin was remanded. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams insists that contrary to what some members of the public may believe, the accused has received no special treatment.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams
“We were going to do our investigation as impartial as we possibly can and there was going to be no special treatment afforded to her. 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 that committed a crime. So as the commissioner I ensured that I remain in constant dialogue with my commander out in the cayes, telling them the need for us to deal with her as we do with any ordinary person.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
Jasmine Hartin is originally from Canada, but has been residing in Belize for a number of years. She shares two children with Andrew Ashcroft of San Pedro.
