Embattled Socialite Jasmine Hartin Released On $15,000 Bond After Admitting She 'Struggled' With Dead Belizean Cop's Firearm Before It 'Discharged'
June 10 2021, Published 11:15 a.m. ET
Embattled socialite Jasmine Hartin has been released from prison on a hefty bond after admitting she "struggled" with late San Pedro Superintendent Henry Jemmott's service firearm before it "discharged" on May 28.
On Wednesday, the 32-year-old mother of two – who is the daughter-in-law of British billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft – was flanked by guards at Belize Central Prison in Hattieville before being smuggled out of the facility while hiding under a white sheet. She was then escorted into the backseat of a black SUV.
Hartin had been at the only prison in the small Central American country for over a week, following a brief stay in the San Pedro Police Station on a charge of manslaughter by negligence. She joined the bail hearing – which took place earlier in the day – via a Zoom call from inside her cell.
During the hearing, Belizean prosecutor Shanice Lovell told the country's Supreme Court that Hartin accidentally shot dead the prominent cop – who was her friend – while she was practicing reloading his Glock during a late-night drinking session on the San Pedro pier.
"After a while he said let's head back inside and asked me to hand back the magazine. I struggled with it, trying to get the magazine back in, and it discharged," Lovell read from the socialite's sworn statement.
The prosecutor told Justice Herbert Lloyd, "The petitioner used a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol. Her subsequent use of that weapon therefore resulted in a loss of life."
Lovell also argued that the seriousness of Hartin's charge "was not diminished" by suggestions that Jemmott had been negligent, which was previously posed by Jemmott's friend, a local bar owner who he met while serving in the military.
"The petitioner is a person of means and vast resources. As such it's likely she would leave the jurisdiction without so much as a backward glance," Lovell added, trying to prove that Hartin was a flight risk.