Jasmine Hartin was back in court this morning, this time for a case management hearing in the still ongoing manslaughter by negligence case for the death of Henry Jemmott.
With her, in court, this morning were attorneys Dickie Bradley, and Oscar Salgado.
And, presiding judge, Justice Sandcroft indicated that Hartin would submit to a social inquiry report in Belmopan so that the prosecution could ascertain information about her criminal record and previous record of social conduct.
But today's hearing seemed mostly routine apart from a moment of clarification between the judge and the DPP. Cherisse Halsall was there and tonight she brings us the latest details.
Jasmine Hartin Was back in court today for case management in the matter of manslaughter by negligence Henry Jemmott. But aside from the usual housekeeping, there was a question in court of whether Hartin's eventual trial will be with or without a jury.
Dickie Bradley, Attorney-At-Law
"That was the brief discussion where the judge said that he was informed by an officer, a Crown Counsel he emphasized from the director of public prosecution's office practicing in his court. He was notified that it was a jury trial for the matter."
And this morning when he tried to confirm that fact with the DPP she indicated that the Crown would prefer that this case not be tried by jury. But Bradley says the law states otherwise:
Dickie Bradley, Attorney-At-Law
"If the parliament of the country, the persons who make law wanted to include manslaughter by negligence or any other cause being death by careless conduct and so on they should have said so."
Judge Sandcroft also asked defence and prosecution what the date for this long-awaited trial should be and, right now, the agreed upon date is April 25th. We asked Bradley if he thinks that date will stick.
Dickie Bradley, Attorney-At-Law
"Yes, this is a hard-working judge. He is grinding out daily and has disposed of quite a number of cases. He is a judge of his word. If the lawyers at this court are asked what day is good for trial. This is a straightforward matter. An accident occurred on a pier and they indicated to him that the date will be in April, he is going to hold that date on his calendar barring, of course, unforeseen circumstances, thinking it will complete this week and it drags on to another week but by and large, there is no reason why that can't be held."
Hartin is due back in court on November 3rd for a sentence indication. That means that the court would indicate to her what sentence she would be likely to receive depending on the plea she should choose to enter.
That Social inquiry report will have to be filed ahead of November 3rd when Hartin will be back in court to hear a sentence indication.
Notably absent from this hearing were Henry Jemmott's sisters, one of whom has attended every other court date.
