Jasmin Hartin hasn't made much news in Belize since she pleaded guilty to manslaughter of veteran cop Henry Jemmott and escaped jail time.
But she still has two minor charges pending in Belize: common assault and drug possession.
That trial came up for an adjournment last week - when it was reported that Hartin could not be there because she is 23 weeks pregnant. But, speaking to us via Zoom from her new home in Turks and Caicos the former partner of Andrew Ashcroft said that she has been appearing virtually with the judges consent from last year. She had a lot on her mind when we spoke to her on the weekend:
Jasmin Hartin, On Trial For Common Assault, Drug Possession
"So I have two prosecutors for petty misdemeanor offenses that, if found guilty, would be a couple hundred dollars of a fine."
"I feel like with the backlog of cases in Belize and people walking free because of the delay in prosecuting cases, there has to be a better way to utilize government resources and time."
Jules Vasquez
"But you also have a situation that you are pregnant and your doctor has recommended that travel at this time is not advised."
Jasmin Hartin, On Trial For Common Assault, Drug Possession
"Correct. That that is true. Carlos and I are expecting the baby later this year, and we're very excited."
"So the doctor did say I should restrain from flying, but that does not affect these cases, as I've been appearing virtually since January of 2024."
Jules Vasquez
"Why is it so important that you continue to make your appearances in what you feel is a in is a process that, has been, you feel, unfairly dragged on."
Jasmin Hartin, On Trial For Common Assault, Drug Possession
"For me, these charges are so ridiculous and so incredibly invented."
"So it's so absurd that I can't let it go out of principle. And the other charge is equally as absurd. The drug possession charge. I was threatened with this two days before I received this charge, claiming it was from the night of the accident on May 28th, which was a month prior."
"And it's riddled with holes and inconsistencies that I have all the evidence to prove my innocence. So that one is also out of principle. I can't let them get away with this. I, I just can't."
"And these cases are still used against me to this day. And I also think that could be the reason for the delay. I think there's a bigger plan at play. And the benefit of delaying these cases, it delays my opportunity to actually show my proof of innocence and have these cases concluded and set aside once and for all. That doesn't benefit the higher powers that are working behind the scenes. What benefits them is to be able to hold it over my head and still trash me in the media and still use it against me."
"Who's really pulling the strings? And why is my case so important to them that instead of prosecuting high profile serious offenses, they're throwing two prosecutors my way for something so minuscule, I really don't understand it."
Jules Vasquez
"One of the charges against you is that you had cocaine in your purse, powdered cocaine in your purse on the night that you were detained for the killing of Henry Jemmott."
"Did you have cocaine in your purse that night?"
Jasmin Hartin, On Trial For Common Assault, Drug Possession
"So this is actually an ongoing matter. So I can't answer specific questions. But what I can tell you is we have evidence that proves my purse was nowhere near the court or, sorry, the the police station that night, pictures of my purse nowhere near me, evidence of all of my personal effects that were taken that night from me at the station."
"Not one mention of a purse, not one mention of drugs being found, not one mention of any of that. In fact, that night, the only substance that was found was tested and proven to be Tylenol. It's confirmed to be acetaminophen that was found on the beach access, which was public, not in my purse. So I look forward to having a day in court to actually present the photos and the evidence that I do have, but I can't really comment further on that right now."
Hartin's attorney is Arthur Saldivar who has asked for a "case stated" at the High Court. Her next court date is set for October first.
