- Dominica: Special prosecutor for murder case involving hoteliers
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the murders of Canadian-born hoteliers Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand, while urging the public to avoid “wild speculations” about their deaths.
After appearing in a magistrate’s court on December 6, two American nationals were remanded into custody until March 24, 2023, in connection with the deaths of the two hoteliers, whose burned remains were discovered in a burnt-out vehicle on December 1, 2023.
Jonathan Lehrer, 57, an American businessman, and his co-accused, Robert (Rob) Thomas Snider Jr, have been charged with two charges of murder.
The prosecution claims that the two Americans murdered Langlois and his partner Marchand between November 29 and December 2, 2023, shocking the southwest village of Soufriere, where the two Canadian nationals owned and operated the Coulibri Ridge Resort.
Because murder is an indictable offence that can only be tried before a judge and jury at the High Court, the Americans were not required to enter a plea.
Skerrit said at a news conference that he wished to “commend the Dominica police for their professional approach to the investigations thus far,” and that he has “complete confidence in the justice system to administer this matter fairly and above board.”
“I have seen no evidence to the contrary thus far, and I believe all parties involved have acted within the bounds of the law and with the utmost integrity.” I urge us everyone to be calm in our talks about this issue.
“Let us avoid wild speculation and the spreading of false information which can do more harm than good,” Skerrit said in a press conference. He added “I have also directed that a special prosecutor be brought in to help prosecute this case to ensure greater possibility of success in the prosecution” .
Skerrit had previously expressed his “shock and sadness” over the deaths of the two hoteliers, whom he characterised as “true friends of Dominica, who contributed much to our country’s development, particularly in the Soufriere, Scottshead area.”
“Through their efforts many were provided with jobs and their example of sustainable development served as an inspiration for us all in our pursuit of energy independence and a climate resilience agenda” .
Skerrit expressed gratitude that the government was able to commemorate Langlois with a national award during Dominica’s independence celebrations last month, adding that “their generosity to Dominica and its people knew no bounds.”
