Billionaire's daughter-in-law arrested after fatal cop shooting
The daughter-in-law of a UK billionaire has been arrested after a high-ranking police official in the Central American nation of Belize was shot in the head with his own gun.
Jasmine Hartin Ashcroft, who is married to the youngest son of conservative political donor Lord Ashcroft, was taken in for questioning on Thursday (local time) after the incident in San Pedro, according to local publication Channel 5 Belize.
Ms Ashcroft and Superintendent Henry Jemmott, who were reportedly friends, were socialising on a pier just after 12:30am when a single gunshot was heard, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told the publication.
When police arrived they found an “emotional” Ms Ashcroft with “what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing,” he added.
Supt Jemmott was found floating in the water next to the pier with a gunshot wound behind his right ear.
His gun was found nearby.
Ms Ashcroft is in police custody pending the outcome of the investigation, according to Channel 5 Belize.
“She is being investigated in respect to the shooting death of Mr Jemmott,” Commissioner Williams said, describing the attack as “personal”.
“I think that her attorneys are out on the island and should be meeting with her and we will see from there if we get any cooperation from her.”
He also said that police are looking into whether Supt Jemmott shot himself.
It has been revealed that in the days leading up to his death Supt Jemmott asked for some time off to deal with personal issues.
He was transferred to a different precinct in May.
Ms Ashcroft and her husband, Andrew Ashcroft, live In Belize, where they run a luxury hotel, according to The Daily Mail.
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