A Tory peer’s daughter-in-law is being questioned by police after a senior police officer was shot dead with his own gun in the Caribbean, according to reports.
Superintendent Henry Jemmott was reportedly found floating in the sea in Belize, Central America, with a fatal wound behind his right ear and his gun nearby after locals heard the noise of a gunshot.
Authorities have not said whether they believe he was murdered, killed accidentally, or died by suicide.
“We have to look at every possibility,” Police chief Chester Williams said at a news conference, according to Belize’s Channel 5 news.
American Jasmine Hartin Ashcroft was last night being questioned after officers found her ’emotional’ on the pier with blood stained clothes, the Daily Mail reports.
Mrs Ashcroft is married to leading Tory donor Lord Ashcroft’s son Andrew, 43, and the couple live in Belize and have launched a luxury hotel together.
(Image: © UPPA/Photoshot)
Chief Williams said: “We have to keep an open mind in the investigation. But there is no suggestion to say there is any third actor.
“Inspection of the body should tell us a lot in terms of proximity and trajectory which will assist in determining the distance from which the shot was fired as well as whether or not Mr Jemmott could have caused his own injury or it was caused by someone in his close proximity.”
(Image: Facebook)
It is reported that before the incident, the officer had asked for ‘personal leave’ from the police.
Commissioner Williams said: “From what we have gathered so far Mr Jemmott and a female, one Jasmine, were socialising on a pier somewhere in San Pedro.”
He said a single gunshot was heard and police found the female on the pier with what appeared to be blood on her arms and clothes.
(Image: 7 News Belize)
(Image: Facebook)
He added that a firearm was found, belonging to Mr Jemmott.
Commissioner Williams then explained that police recovered Mr Jemmott’s lifeless body with an apparent gunshot wound behind his right ear.
The police commissioner said Mrs Ashcroft was taken into custody and is being questioned over the shooting.
Tributes have been paid to Superintendent Jemmott, saying his service will not be forgotten.