The widow of the Belizean police chief shot by Jasmine Hartin has broken her long-standing silence to blast the socialite over her ‘international PR campaign’ to paint herself as a victim in the tragedy.
Romit Wilson, 39, who has three children with slain Superintendent Henry Jemmott, told the Mail her family has been left ‘anguished’ by Hartin’s prolific publicity spree in the wake of his death in May 2021.
The mother said she ‘wishes’ that Hartin had considered the officer’s children before doing countless interviews as well as documentaries about the night she ‘accidentally’ shot their father.
Ms Wilson who has maintained a dignified silence spoke out after the 33-year-old Canadian released yet another statement complaining about her own ‘long and painful battle’.
Hartin, the estranged partner of Tory grandee Lord Ashcroft’s son Andrew, appeared to backtrack on her guilty plea which was dramatically entered at the 11th hour on Tuesday ahead of her trial for manslaughter by negligence.
Pictured: Henry Jemmott the Belize police chief who was shot Jasmin Hartin, with his family, widow Romit Wilson and children from left: Henry Jemmott III, Jemarie Jemmott, Keyannie Jemmott
Pictured: Jasmin Hartin outside the Supreme Court in Belize City on April 25, 2023. She was due to go on trial for manslaughter by negligence
Released by Louisa Chiaramonte, who runs an advertising agency and is described as Hartin’s ‘PR Manager’, the statement said the plea ‘was a decision that was ruled by emotion and made in haste’.
Despite having a four-hour adjournment followed by another 30minute break, it claimed Hartin did not have ‘the expected time’ to consult with her Canadian lawyers.
But it said that she feels it is ‘the best possible outcome for all parties’, adding: ‘Out of respect for Mr Jemmott’s family, this decision will ensure that the family is not forced to relive this horrific tragedy.’
Ms Wilson, who was Supt Jemmott’s common law wife for 13 years, said she wishes the socialite had thought about the family before her ‘PR’ efforts over the past two years.
She told the Mail: ‘I have not given any interviews to any media houses since the day Henry was killed.
‘I have focused on our children, taking care of them and dealing with our grief. I know, they say grief comes in waves, but ours has been constant.
‘My children and I have had to endure Ms Hartin recounting, in interview after interview, in full documentaries even, details of that awful night, details of her friendship with Henry, and even about details about my relationship with Henry.
‘Yesterday, she said she pled guilty to not put us through the anguish of a trial. I wish she had also thought about that before her international PR campaign.’
The sister of the Belizean police chief shot by Jasmine Hartin said her family will continue their fight for justice as there is ‘no peace’ to be found in the socialite’s last minute guilty plea. Pictured: Henry Jemmott and his sister Cherry
Hartin has admitted she shot Superintendent Henry Jemmott (pictured) when his gun went off by accident while she handled it as they had a late-night drink together on a pier in May 2021
Hartin, 33, broke down in tears as she entered her plea at Supreme Court in Belize City
Ms Wilson added that she hopes that Hartin will give more consideration to her children in the family’s forthcoming civil claim over the officer’s death.
The family’s lawyer Leslie Mendez also criticised Hartin for attempting to ‘inject uncertainty’ over her plea entered before the Supreme Court in Belize City.
Ms Mendez said: ‘You cannot waffle on the veracity of your guilty plea and, at the same time, maintain you want the family to have peace and heal.
‘It is reprehensible to inject uncertainty into the public discourse and the minds of his family when what they want is the truth and justice.’
The family added that claims by Hartin’s defence that she had paid compensation to them were false and that ‘no offers’ had been made.
Their civil case is due to go before the courts in Belize after Hartin is sentenced on May 31 when she expected to escape jail with just a fine.
Hartin, who has twins with the Andrew Ashcroft, has long insisted that the death of Supt Jemmott who she describes as ‘one of her dearest friends’ was a ‘horrible accident’.
Pictured: Lord Ashcroft’s son Andrew, 44, (left) and his former partner Jasmine Hartin (right)
While on bail awaiting trial, she has given several interviews both in print and on camera including a sit down with Piers Morgan for Talk TV and CBS’s Peter Van Sant for a special edition of 48 Hours.
She has also featured in the documentary One Bullet in Belize on Discovery+ and is rumoured to be part of another new film yet to be aired.
In her many interviews, she has described in graphic detail how she ‘accidentally’ shot the officer as they enjoyed a late night drink on the pier near Mr Ashcroft’s luxury hotel on Ambergris Caye.
Hartin said Supt Jemmott had offered to teach her how to use the Glock 17 for protection after she had been attacked at a party.
But she said the gun went off as she tried to hand him the magazine and a single bullet struck him in the head causing his body to slump on top of her.
She described in detail on TalkTV how she ‘wriggled out’ from under the heavy set officer and was left covered in his blood.
Hartin said there was a ‘loud bang’ and then ‘Henry fell back on top of me… I could see blood and feel the blood’.
In the documentary One Bullet in Belize on Discovery+ she claimed that the officer had told her he had split from his long-term partner and asked her for massage moments before his death.
She said she was rubbing his shoulder when he wanted to go back inside and asked her to hand him the magazine which she said was stuck.
Hartin said it misfired as she struggled to remove it: ‘I don’t ever remember touching the trigger at all. Next thing I know, the gun goes off.’