Socialite's bizarre defence after police chief's fatal shooting
A socialite charged over death of a high-ranking police officer reportedly "accidentally shot him while giving him a massage".
Jasmine Hartin Ashcroft, the daughter-in-law of British billionaire Lord Ashcroft, was charged with manslaughter by negligence after Superintendent Henry Jemmott was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in Belize early on Thursday morning (local time).
When police arrived they found an “emotional” Ms Ashcroft with “what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing,” Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told Channel 5 Belize.
Supt Jemmott was found floating in the water next to the pier with a gunshot wound behind his right ear.
Ms Ashcroft was charged after police took her in for questioning over the incident in San Pedro.
According to 7 News Belize, reliable sources claim Ms Ashcroft was giving the Superintendent a massage on the pier when he reportedly asked the socialite to hand him his gun.
The news station reports the gun then accidentally fired into the back of the police officer's head and Ms Ashcroft allegedly pushed him off the pier in an attempt to get out from under his lifeless body.
The gun was found nearby.
Speculation police officer took own life
Commissioner Williams told Channel 5 Belize police were also investigating whether Supt Jemmott took his own life.
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.
Ms Ashcroft is currently being detained in San Pedro jail.
With Yahoo UK
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