Jasmine Hartin could avoid jail with fine despite murdering Henry Jemmot, here's how much she might pay
Canadian socialite Jasmine Hartin was seen being led away in handcuffs on June 1 after her arraignment. It is being reported that the 32-year-old will be detained at the infamous Belize Central Prison alongside violent criminals and gang members. That came after a local court said she was too much of a flight risk and denied bail.
Hartin, who is married to British politician Lord Ashcroft's son, found herself in trouble after the shooting of Henry Jemmot. The duo was drinking at a pier, in violation of Beliz's Covid-19 guidelines, when Jemmot, a policeman, was shot in the head. Hartin claims that it was an accident, caused by her giving him a massage. Despite Jemmot's death, prosecutors have decided against charging Hartin on a serious charge like murder or manslaughter.
READ MORE
Who was Khalil Walker? Rapper Lil Loaded was arrested for friend's murder months before death
Instead, she has been charged with manslaughter by negligence, one of the least serious offenses available. It is likely that such a charge doesn't come with jail time, but merely a fine, which she could pay. The news hasn't gone down well with Jemmot's family, or many others on social media who claim Hartin was let off because of her connections.
How much will Hartin have to pay?
According to The Daily Mail, Hartin could choose to plead guilty to the charge in court. If she does, she will simply have to pay the fine of 20,000 Belizean dollars (around US$10,000), before she is allowed to walk free. That's a far cry from manslaughter, which comes with a 25-year jail sentence. Manslaughter by negligence carries a potential jail term of five years, but the fine is believed to be a more likely option.
The verdict came after a secretive arrangement hearing, despite authorities saying she wouldn't receive any preferential treatment. Reportedly, police cleared out the courthouse in San Pedro, before bringing Hartin up from her holding cell in front of the court. Three hours later, her lawyer Godfrey Smith emerged and confirmed the charge to reporters. He then attempted to have Hartin released on bail, but reportedly missed the deadline, leading Hartin to be taken away in handcuffs.
"It's not right. It's not right. The family will feel really bad. This is not justice," Jemmot's sister Cherry told the Mail. "My brother will have a state funeral on June 12. He gave 24 years to the police. And this is the value they put on his life?" Cherry was joined by a flood of others on social media, who criticized the verdict.
Hartin taken to infamous prison
Around 2.30pm, reporters got their first look at Hartin, who was seen in a red hoodie and jeans. She was holding a plastic bag, which is believed to have helped obscure her handcuffs. She was led from the police station to a secluded port. There, she bounded the vessel SEAductress and was taken to the mainland. Around 4.30pm, she entered the gates of the infamous Belizian prison, known to be one of the worst in the world.
Conditions are so bad, that the prison made it to Netflix's 'Word's Toughest Prisons' show. Nicknamed the 'Hattieville Ramada', the prison has over 1,000 incarcerated men and women, mostly for violent crimes. That includes gang members as well as those charged with murder. It is unclear if Hartin will be housed separately, but it is likely given the nature of inmates there. The prison is run by the Kolbe Foundation, and inmates are made to work labor-intensive work like farming while living in austere concrete blocks.
Her stay there, though, could be short. "Within seven working days she will get bail, I predict it. She can afford it," Cherry said. It is unclear when she is next due in jail.