Double murder accused Jonathan Lehrer, who has been charged in connection with the murder of Canadian Daniel Langlois and his partner Dominique Marchand, is expected to return to court later this week for the court to decide whether his bail conditions should be varied.
He appeared at the Roseau High Court on Monday.
“The judge has adjourned the matter to either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday this week, [that is] the application to vary bail,” Lead Counsel for the State, Kings Counsel Thomas Astaphan told State-owned DBS Radio following the court proceedings.
He continued, “An application was made for the terms and conditions of bail that have been granted to be changed.”
He told the Dominican people to “have faith, be patient, all will be well.”
“Ultimately justice will be served one way or the next,” Astaphan stated.
Residents of Soufriere and surrounding areas gathered at the high court in Roseau on Monday, expressing their outrage over the bail granted to Lehrer. Last November, Lehrer was granted bail under certain conditions, one of which required him to revoke his U.S. citizenship. However, his legal team is now seeking to amend those conditions to allow him to travel to the U.S., a move that has further inflamed public anger.
The court’s decision to grant Lehrer bail initially sparked a public outcry, and yesterday demonstrators expressed the strength of their opposition to bail for the murder-accused, chanting “No bail for Jonathan” and demanding justice for the victims and the local community. Many residents feel that the judicial system has failed them, leading to heightened frustration. One demonstrator expressed the sentiment shared by many, stating, “The whole system just failed Dominica. They failed the Soufriere people. They should just go, man. No bail for Jonathan!”
Tensions heightened when Lehrer was reportedly seen in a vehicle near the court, prompting protesters to demand that he be prevented from entering the building. The demonstrators gave vent to their feelings, showcasing the palpable anger among them, and insisted that he should not be granted bail. As police set up barriers to manage the situation, the protests continued, with some of the protesters suggesting that the bail decision reflects a bias towards a foreign national.
The case has also raised questions about Lehrer’s involvement in the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, with community members expressing concern over how he could continue to operate as an agent for the program while facing serious allegations.
“How is it that this man can still be making money selling our citizenship?” one protester asked, highlighting broader concerns about fairness and justice within the legal process.
The protests underscore a community deeply invested in seeking justice for Daniel Langlois, whose murder has profoundly affected the people of Soufriere/Scottshead.
I know the Honorable Prime Minister is a man of the Bible, especially during difficult times so let me dedicate this Bible verse to him, so he can draw comfort and strength from it since it is a conversation between king Solomon and his father king David
Chronicles 22:7-9
Contemporary English Version
7 He said:
My son, I wanted to build a temple where the Lord my God would be worshiped. 8 But some time ago, he told me, “David, you have killed too many people and have fought too many battles. That’s why you are not the one to build my temple.
Oh, you hypocrite!
If you are referring to Roosevelt Skerrit as a man of the Bible, I would like you to disclose which one are you referring to?
If Roosevelt reads the Bible, there’s no way he could be as corrupted and lie he is!
If he is a man of the Bible asks him to explain to you what God word teaches about liars, for one I am leaving out the rest that are condemned along with liars.
If Roosevelt is a man of the Bible, tell me why every five years he bribed people to vote for him. I know people he gives money and planes tickets to give to people in Canada, America, Antigua, and elsewhere to return home to vote for him!
Are such actions and behavior, that of one you think is of the Bible?
Barajas the thief had time to communicate with Jesus when he was crucified on the cross, hope Rossvelt will have time to ask God forgiveness for the wickedness he perpetrated on our country and people especially the poor and needy!
As Pm Skerrit is giving kudos to Mr Billy Doctrove, let’s pretend there is a cricket game playing in Dominica between Skerrit’s dream 11 vs patriots of Dominica and Mr Billy Doctrove is the TV umpire.
So the Skerrit dream eleven won the toss and chose to bowl. The dream 11 team is: 1. R Skerrit cap 2 Blackmore vc 3. J Lehrer, 4.R Snider 5. A Monfared 5. D Madueke 6. NG Seng, 7, W Norde 8. L Lawrence 9. L Peters 10. P Wickham 11. T Astaphan.
So the two openers of the patriots are making their way to the middle 1. D Langlois and D Marchand . Capt Skerrit tosses the ball to his opening bowler J Lehrer and the wicket keeper is R Snider with Skerrit at 1st slip and Blackmore at 2nd and all others around the bar.
So here is the first ball: here comes J Lehrer to D Langlois. A quick delivery and left alone by Langlois but a loud appeal for caught at wicket from R Snider and others but not out says umpire. In fact Skerrit calls for review but umpire Doctrove said NO! Oh both openers out!
You know the Dominica justice system has no compassion to any other justice system on planet earth! An alleged bubble murder murdered two people, and set their bodies on fire in a burning car, in order to cover up their willful and premeditated murder.
But rather than keep the criminal locked up and prosecuted, we have stupid people in the system who wants a criminal to denounce his citizenship from the country of his birth in order to be granted bail!
That should not be an option. These monster, murderrers, should not be granted bail, granted bail is an opportunity to flee the country, never to be seen again in Dominica, will continue to accommodate Roosevelt in the sale of Dominica passports, rather than spending the rest of their life in jail for the murder they committed!
No justice in Dominica this guy has heavy pockets (millions!) he will walk free wait and see!
Not just deep pockets but the man is a passport dealer so you think Skerrit them going to let one of their teammates fall before their eyes and for the billionaire to start to make confessions against his team?
My question is: When will is the substantive part of this case get started and completed? Will it take multiple years? Delayed justice is injustice. The longer it takes the more the public becomes agitated.
Just recently it was confirmed that Dominica has the slowest/worst clearance rate in the high court of the OECS.
Why is Dominica ALWAYS in the cellar position in most things in the OECS?
Worst Government = Worst Country
@Ibo France, minor correction.
Worst Government = WORST PEOPLE.
It is people like you that work very hard to keep Dominica in a struggling position. You rejoice at the perceived failures of Dominica.Yet because of your bias politics you are always critical when projects aimed at improving the lives of Dominicans are implemented, as far as you are concerned there has been no improvements in Dominica for the past 25 years, the roads are in a dilapidated state, schools are in a state of disrepair, the once modern PMH with advance medical equipment is now a broken down shed housing Chinese squatters and don’t forget that Dominica’s attempt to have a Dominican appointed as PAHO director and another as Caricom Secretary General was rejected because Dominicans are the WORST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD…..what a thing!!
Dominica looks very tainted in all of these mess taking place here. Why should a double murder accused be wasting so much of the courts time fighting for bail if someone more powerful than him or a super power group , with supreme power is innocent?
On a different note I am asking myself where does the government of Dominica stand in this bail game? I am again asking myself if the government really wants him bailed so he could run to the US or if according to the security minister they are against bail? I know it’s been alleged that the accused was a passport dealer for the government . We also know that the accused main attorney is also the government’s chief attoiurney. What I would like to know is who is standing as surety for the accused?
I don’t know but this court game reminds me of the Choksi matter that was blocked and dismissed without a fair trial or case and today Dominicans are still wondering who were the players behind it. God is long suffering but won’t be so forever
You clearly do not know a lot so, you should do yourself a favour and refrain from displaying your ignorance. Or, get the facts before shooting from the hip.
Remember what happened in Anguilla when the US national killed the Dominican worker at the hotel.
they granted him bail and he never pass back.
Donald Trump had even encouraged him not to return to Anguilla.
Hmmm awaiting the outcome
‘they granted him bail’, no, as usual, our sell out leaders did what they always do, allow rich white peple to get away with murder using ‘bail’ as a smoke screen. same thing that’s happening here.
I keep saying it, we live in apartheid, one rule for white people, different rule for us. They can bring guns, kill, do what they want and caribbean governments will figure out a way to set them free.