Dominica’s High Court recently opened the possibility for American hotelier Jonathan Lehrer, accused of murdering two people last year, to be released on bail.
Lehrer, 57, and 62-year-old Robert Snyder Jr, another American national were charged with the murders of animation pioneer and Canadian philanthropist Daniel Langlois and his longtime partner, Dominique Marchand, 58.
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The Americans were not required to enter a plea in the magistrate’s court, since murder is an indictable offense and can only be tried before a judge and jury at the High Court.
The prosecution alleges that between November 29 and December 2, 2023, the two Americans murdered Langlois and Marchand. Their bodies were found incinerated in a car near Gallion, in the south of the island where they owned a hotel. Langlois and Marchand had been reported missing for several days.
Early this year Lehrer through his lawyers had applied for bail on “medical grounds” to travel to the United States of America but that was denied.
On Tuesday, Justice Colin Williams outlined several conditions under which bail could be given to Lehrer. They include a one million dollar (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) bond with a proper and suitable surety. In addition, the murder accused must revoke his US Citizenship and he must satisfy the Registrar of the High Court that he has met all the conditions set out by the court.
His surety must have “total control over him” and he must first secure the approval of the High Court before he travels. He is also to report to the Grand Bay Police Station, south of here, as part of his bail conditions.
The state had opposed bail, considering Lehrer “a flight risk, the seriousness of the matter and the public’s interest in the matter”.
Outside the High Court, community activist, Corally Bellot Norde spoke about the pain and hurt that the double murder has had on the Soufriere community and the possibility of bail.
“I am not pleased about him being granted bail and the entire community is also not pleased. Jonathan should never be granted bail…we have to stand up and our community will stand up. One voice is better than none, this is not right for our country, Dominica is the healing destination,” she said.
“The whole world is watching us, I am ashamed about it because Dominica is being promoted as a tourism destination. What happened today makes me feel sad and bad, how can you grant bail to a criminal, this is painful for us in Soufriere and I hope God is hearing us, we are hurting,” a tearful Bellot Norde said.
Defense lawyers Lennox Lawrence and Wayne Norde refused to comment on the matter, while the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple said the matter will be at the High Court for trial on December 10, 2024.
In December last year, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that a special prosecutor would be appointed to deal with the murders, saying then, “I have every confidence in the justice system to administer this matter fairly and above board.” CMC
