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The former daughter-in-law of billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft has pleaded guilty in Belize City Supreme Court to manslaughter in the death of Henry Jemmott, 42, and her trial will begin on Wednesday.
Channel 5 Belize news reported that Hartin said outside the court: “I just hope that Henry’s family can live in peace now, and I hope that all of us can get through this whole thing so that we can heal.”
It added that the 33-year-old woman asked the court for sentencing directions, to which the judge replied that she would likely be sentenced to a non-custodial sentence, which would involve fines and/or compensation to the family.
People were found on the dock near the dock where the body of her friend Sheriff Jamott was found in May 2021 in the town of San Pedro following reports of a shooting.
Police Chief Chester C. Williams told local media: “Following an investigation, police found the woman on the dock with what appeared to be blood on her arms and clothing.”
He added that a gunshot was heard and a firearm belonging to and distributed to the father of five was retrieved from the dock.
Harting, who has two children with Lord Ashcroft’s son Andrew, 43, and a US citizen, allegedly invited the officer to her flat for a drink to discuss her safety.
It is believed they then broke the 10pm Covid curfew by walking to the nearby pier, where she is said to have given him a massage for his sore shoulder.
What happened next is unclear.
Harting’s account of events appeared to be that Mr Jermott dropped the gun and was accidentally shot when she returned it to him.
The father-of-five succumbed to his injuries after suffering a gunshot wound behind the ear.
Hartin’s attorney, Orson ‘OJ’ Elrington, told reporters his client’s primary concern was “not to put the victim’s family through the pain of having to go through the trial process, so she has been concerned about that”.
Channel 5 Belize reported that a sentencing hearing is expected to take place on May 31.
Following Hartin’s guilty plea, Mr Elrington added that the judge was expected to impose a non-custodial sentence.
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