ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Chief Magistrate, Candia Carette George, Friday dismissed a no case submission by lawyers representing two United States nationals charged with the 2023 double murder of Echo Resort owner, Daniel Langlois, and his partner, Dominique Marchand.
Jonathan Lehrer, 57, and 62-year-old Robert Snider Jr. were charged with the murders of animation pioneer and Canadian philanthropist Langlois and his 58-year-old longtime partner.
The prosecution alleges that between November 29 and December 2, 2023, the two Americans murdered Langlois and Marchand, whose 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.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate said that the prosecution had established its case on the evidence provided against the accused men.
Defense Counsel Lennox Lawrence did not speak to the press after the ruling, but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sherma Dalrymple, expressed pleasure with the ruling.
“Today was scheduled for a ruling and a no-case submission and possible committal. So the Magistrate decides that there is sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed to trial, and as a result, both accused have been committed to stand trial at the High Court at the next criminal session.
“The State is very confident in this matter, and we have a real prospect of obtaining a conviction. The evidence is clear in relation to both accused of committing the crime of the double murder. So both men are expected to be indicted in September,” she told reporters.
The Americans were not required to enter a plea when they first appeared in the Magistrate’s Court, a few years ago, since murder is an indictable offence and can only be tried before a judge and jury at the High Court.
Last year, Lehrer, through his lawyers, had applied for bail on “medical grounds” to travel to the United States of America.
Justice Colin Williams had last year outlined several conditions under which bail could have been 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 was also to report to the Grand Bay Police Station, south of here.
But Lehrer remains in prison, as earlier this week, High Court judge Justice Davidson Baptiste denied bail on gun-related charges.
The American national is charged with “trafficking firearms and unlawfully importing 1 Mac 11- 9MM Treaded barrel, 144 9X19 MM ammunition, 1-IWI 25 rounds capacity 9MM Magazine; 3 IWI 32 rounds capacity 9MM magazine, 3 Glock 9MM 15 rounds capacity magazine, and 3 Glock 9MM 10 rounds capacity magazine. The incident took place on December 4, 2023.
Senior Magistrate Michael Laudat had earlier denied Lehrer bail, stating “that it was not in the public interest to grant him bail.
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