I DID kill cop.. it was an accident

Ex of Lord Ashcroft's son pleads guilty to Belize pier shooting

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

THE former partner of Tory grandee Lord Ashcroft's son has pleaded guilty to accidentally shooting a police chief dead in Belize.

Jasmine Hartin, 42, broke down in tears as she entered her plea at the Supreme Court in the capital Belize City, where she was due to go on trial for Henry Jemmott's manslaughter.

Outside the court, the Canadian socialite said: "I just want Henry's family to have peace now and I want this whole thing behind all of us so we can heal."

Sentencing is expected to take place on May 31. The legal precedent for a guilty plea to manslaughter by negligence is a non-custodial sentence and a fine. Judge Ricardo Sandcroft said he was unlikely to "veer away" from it.

Father-of-five Supt Jemmott's sisters and his daughter were in court to hear Hartin's admission.