ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore says he is opposed to the granting of bail for double murder accused Johnathan Lehrer.
Blackmoore’s comment follows a decision by High Court Judge Colin Williams to open bail for Lehrer, who has been accused of the double murder of Quebec philanthropist Daniel Langlois and his partner Dominique Marchand.
“Let me make it fundamentally clear that the state takes this bail application of Johnathan Lehrer, who is accused of double murder, very seriously and is opposed to the granting of bail. While I fully appreciate the court’s independence, there is consensus within society that certain crimes must be dealt with most seriously by the court,” Blackmoore said in a statement.
In December 2023 last year, murder charges were filed against Lehrer, 57, and his co-accused, 62-year-old Robert Snyder Jr., over the deaths of Langlois and Marchand.
Bail was granted for EC$1 million with a proper and suitable surety. As part of bail conditions, Lehrer must revoke his US Citizenship.
To be released, he must meet all the conditions set by the high court, and his surety must have ‘total control over him. ‘ Before traveling, he must first secure the high court’s approval.
Lehrer must also report to the Grand Bay Police Station as part of bail conditions.
Allegedly, between November 29 and December 2, 2023, the two Americans murdered set ablaze Langlois and his partner Marchand in their car in Gallion near their Coulibrie Ridge property.
Langlois and Marchand had been reported missing for several days before their charred bodies were discovered.
Early this year, Lehrer, through his lawyers, applied for bail on “medical grounds” to travel to the United States of America, but that was denied as he was deemed a flight risk.
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