The son of Lord Ashcroft has left Belize with his two young children for another part of the Caribbean, as their mother faces a charge of manslaughter for killing a police officer.

In a statement released to local media, Andrew Ashcroft said that he had been given legal custody of his two children with Jasmine Hartin by a magistrate in Belize on May 25 and that he had since taken them out of the country.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...er-gaining-custody-of-children-fmn26zz93

Andrew Ashcroft Says Au Revoir, Belize and Jasmine

Jasmine Hartin is expected to face trial later this year for killing Henry Jemmott, but she will see the judge way before she sees her twins again. That's because their father, Andrew Ashcroft - after winning sole custody of the children - has packed up and departed for Turks and Caicos - leaving Belize and Jasmine behind, along with the swank multi million dollar resort he had developed on San Pedro, the Alaia.

An official statement issued by his attorney today says, quote,
"On May 25, 2022, I was given legal custody of my two five year-old children, pursuant to the Families and Children Act, Chapter 173 of the Laws of Belize. I hope that in due course the Magistrate will provide his full reasoning for this important decision.

The Belize Alaia Hotel in San Pedro is now fully operational and open for business, and I had an opportunity to develop a similar hotel in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and have therefore moved there with my family in order to perform my new job.

I will come back to Belize from time to time where I have thoroughly enjoyed bringing a new cutting edge tourist development to San Pedro.

I hold no ill will or malice towards Jasmine and wish her well with the court proceedings in which she is facing charges of manslaughter, cocaine possession and common assault.

During the hotel development process, and at a time when we were working together, I had gifted to Jasmine 10% of the issued share capital of the holding company of The Belize Alaia Hotel. I intend to obtain an independent valuation for these shares and to provide her with their fair value." End quote.

And with that, Andrew Ashcroft abruptly exits stage right - after spearheading the development of the Alaia - which it was expected he would continue to helm for some time.

There are reports that Hartin plans to appeal the quite unusual decision of the family court magistrate to grant Andrew Ashcroft sole custody of their children without even visitation rights to the mother. But, of course, if and when this appeal reaches a higher court, it is likely he will be residing in Turks and Caicos.

Jasmine Hartin could not be reached for comment.

Channel 7