Mourners flooded the streets in Belize to pay their respects to a police superintendent allegedly shot dead by billionaire Lord Ashcroft’s ‘daughter-in-law’.
Wearing face maskers reading ‘RIP King’ – Henry Jemmott’s nickname due to him being the only son among many daughters –family, friends and colleagues sobbed as the 24-year veteran officer was laid to rest, The Sun reports.
The 42-year-old father-of-five, who leaves behind a wife of 14 years, was buried in his hometown of Dangriga yesterday, with his casket driven through the streets.
Jasmine Hartin, 32, was charged with manslaughter by negligence after allegedly shooting Jemmott with his service weapon after the pair drunk together late at night.
Jemmott’s body was found floating beside a pier off the island of San Pedro on May 28 following what Hartin claims was an accident.
She reportedly says she was handing him back his gun when it went off.
The mum-of-two, the partner of Lord Ashcroft’s son, Andrew, has now been controversially released on bail having posted a £10,000 bond.
The Canadian socialite had been held in the notorious Central Belize Prison for just over a week and had been suffering “extreme anxiety and distress”.
As part of her bail conditions she must report every day to the police station and not leave the central American country.
Jemmott’s sister Cherry Jemmott, 48, said the bail decision was “not right” and “not justice,” adding: “He gave 24 years to the police, and this is the value they put on his life?”
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Many in the country have also criticised the move and speculated Hartin was being treated differently due to her wealth.
Hartin’s attorney Godfrey Smith told reporters outside the Belize courtroom: “In the end, the judge felt that there was not an unacceptable risk of flight once the appropriate conditions could be put in place.”