Murders of Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand in the Caribbean: a co-defendant soon conditionally released

The main suspect in the murder of Quebec entrepreneur Daniel Langlois and his partner Dominique Marchand in Dominica could soon regain his freedom.

This is what a judge of the Republic concluded who was hearing a new request for conditional release from Jonathan Lehrer, co-accused of the murders of the two Quebecers.

Earlier this year, he made a similar request citing his desire to travel to the United States for “medical reasons”, but this was refused.

On Tuesday, the judge authorized the conditional release of Jonathan Lehrer while imposing several conditions to be respected.

In addition to having to pay bail equivalent to approximately US$368,000, he must revoke his American citizenship.

The Crown opposed his release on bail, arguing that he “presents a flight risk” and emphasizing “the seriousness of the matter” and the public interest in this cause.

“I am not happy that he was released on bail and the whole community is not happy either,” confided, in tears, Corally Bellot Norde, citizen and activist of the Soufrière community.

“The whole world is watching us, I am ashamed of it because Dominica is being promoted as a tourist destination. What happened today makes me sad,” she added.

Before being released, Jonathan Lehrer must prove to the High Court Registrar that he has fulfilled all conditions ordered by the court. In particular, he must obtain authorization from a judge before being able to travel.

Defense attorneys Lennox Lawrence and Wayne Norde declined to comment on the case.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sherma Dalrymple, indicated that the case will return to court on December 10, 2024.

Jonathan Lehrer and his co-defendant, Robert Snyder Jr, are accused of the murders of the Quebec couple.

Their bodies were found in a burned vehicle, near their Coulibri Ridge hotel complex, on 1^is December 2023.

Lehrer, owner of the Bois Cotlette chocolate factory, had been in conflict for several years with Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand over the use of the Morne Rouge public road, which crosses his land to get to the hotel opened by Quebecers in 2021.

The dispute reached the island’s highest court, which ruled in 2019 that the road was public and that Mr. Langlois’ clients could use it freely.

The announcement of the death of the two entrepreneurs had shaken the Dominican community, including the state’s premier, Roosevelt Skerrit, who said he was “saddened and in shock” after the news.

Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand were notably recognized for being involved in the reconstruction of the island after the passage of the hurricane Maria in 2017.

Tributes to the couple had been paid in this island state of the Lesser Antilles, located between Martinique and Guadeloupe, but also in Montreal.