Lord Ashcroft son's partner may have been giving superintendent massage when gun accidentally went off, reports claim - Telegraph.co.uk

[massage]

The partner of Lord Ashcroft's son may have been giving superintendent Henry Jemmott a massage when his gun accidentally went off and shot him in the head, reports claim.

Jasmine Hartin, 38, the girlfriend of Andrew Ashcroft, whose father was deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, is in custody in Belize after police say she was found near where Mr Jemmott's body was discovered on Friday.

Investigators said Ms Hartin initially did not give a statement to police, choosing to wait for her lawyer.

But local media reports now claim she has described the events which lead up to Mr Jemmott’s death.

Ms Hartin reportedly claimed she was giving Mr Jemmott a massage on the pier when he asked her to hand him his service pistol, broadcaster 7 News Belize cite “reliable sources” as claiming.

When she handed him the gun it accidently went off and shot him in the back of the head, the source claimed.

Mr Jemmott’s body was found floating in the sea next to the pier in the town of San Pedro on the east coast of Belize.

Ms Hartin has reportedly claimed that when he was accidentally shot he fell on top of her, attempting to get him off she pushed him and his body fell from the pier into the water, 7 News said sources claimed.

The body of superintendent Henry Jemmott was found floating in the sea next to a pier off the eastern coast of Belize Credit: Massis

Chester Williams, the Belize police commissioner, previously said when Ms Hartin was found on the pier she was “in an emotional state”.

Mr Jemmott’s sister, Marie Jemmott Tzul, has pleaded with Ms Hartin to “give closure to the family”.

“Tell us what happened. We want to know for the benefit of our family. He was my only brother,” she said.

“He had five children and a partner for 14 years. Every time I look at my nieces and my nephews I break down and cry. Please tell us what happened.”

Results of the post-mortem examination were expected to be released late on Monday night.

Ms Hartin, an American who has been living in Belize for many years, is in custody in a holding cell at the San Pedro police station – which one local described as "hell on earth".

A police station in San Pedro – the Belize police commissioner said when Ms Hartin was found on the pier she was 'in an emotional state' Credit: Henry Romero/Reuters

Mr Jemmott's family had previously rubbished suggestions that the officer took his own life. It is understood he had recently asked for time off to deal with "personal issues".

His other sister Cherry Jemmott, an assistant superintendent in Belize Police, told the Daily Mail: "My brother would never ever kill himself. He had his plans. In September he was to be promoted to senior superintendent and he was to be transferred to another unit. My brother is a very top cop with a big dream."

She added: "He is so skillful after 24 years (as an officer), he would never have left his guard down. He was a top cop. I don't know how he let down his guard to be shot with his own gun."