Couple pleads not guilty in violent Pointe Michel fracas

The two individuals who were involved in a violent incident in Pointe Michel, which drew wide public outrage, have appeared before a Roseau Magistrate and slapped with several charges to which they pleaded not guilty.

Vernal LeFleur and Marcellus Rafoul were not arrested after the April 16, 2017 fracas, drawing outcry and condemnation of the police by the public. The police decided to proceed via summons and the matter was brought before the court.

The incident was captured on video and it soon went viral on the internet.

Rafoul was seen in the video with a cutlass and a stone in his hand inflicting blows on Liam Pascal while LeFleur was armed with two bottles which she broke and inflicted several stab wounds on Pascal.

Rafoul was charged malicious damage; intimidation (with a stone); throwing missiles in the public; intimidation (with a cutlass); disorderly conduct; battery and armed with an offensive weapon (cutlass).

LeFleur, his girlfriend, was charged with malicious damage; intimidation; wounding and disorderly conduct.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges and the matter was adjourned to August 28, 2017.

Disclosure is to be effected on or before July 28, 2017.

Since they were not arrested, the issue of bail did not come into question.

They are being represented by attorney, Joshua Francis in the matter.

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32 Comments

  1. Hmm
    April 28, 2017

    We need to get Colombo on the case! because I’m sure its Murder she Wrote!!

  2. Let The Truth Be Known - Original
    April 26, 2017

    Is this the Law of Dominica, not to arrest the two perpetrators for such a crime? I think Dominicans need to be informed about this.
    How can only a summons be issued without an arrest?
    They injured the man in a worst manner. They almost killed him. Even with injuries, it could kill him later.
    They have the audacity to plead not guilty.

  3. Food
    April 26, 2017

    Pleading not guilty yet it was recirded. Smh

    • Food
      April 26, 2017

      Recorded*

    • dee
      April 27, 2017

      Common Common Common .
      Swinging that cutlass ,taking a swipe at that man head with a cutlass , is only intimidation with a cutlass .
      In any Civilized Country , he would have had to defend attempted murder .
      If the Lord had not been present and decided to take control that victims head would have been split open in two halves . how is that not attempted murder .Something is drastically wrong .
      These days if a black tradesman is found with his screwdriver in his hand walking down the road to his neighbours,and he is not smiling, he is considered armed with a dangerous weapon,his tool must be secured in his tool bag or tool box.How that kool kootlar is not attempted murder i dont know. Mister could clearly be seen waiting for the opportunity when the victim had been distracted and looking away, before his attempted strike .Charge him with attempted murder and let him defend himself .
      what he doing with a long, sharp cutlass in public when he not no farmer,garden he…

      • dee
        April 27, 2017

        contd ,
        I want to know if is garden he was going ? if so wais his shoes , simples .
        Dominicans this got international exposure, now let it be shown that justice is prevailing , potential visitors are also interested in the outcome and punishment , by which they could form an opinion whether the risk involved in visiting Dominica is worthwhile; correct the wrong to avoid possible copy cats . Of course some idiots think it hip ,that this got over a million hits on social media .
        I self if de fing take me and is Dominica i decide to spend my fading days, i believe my pow pow will be all polished again , and within easy reach .
        Nobody coming close to my head with their cutlass if i can prevent it , you not no butcher , nor am i no tet chien ; SELF DEFENSE .

  4. Envar
    April 26, 2017

    Is a good thing the video shows that the couple was well behaved.. All what is on the video was edited to show violence…

    • Justice Seeker
      April 27, 2017

      Nice one! You are right.

  5. Iamanidiot
    April 26, 2017

    The three girls that came and hold the guy in his neck when he’s trying to defend themself…arrest them too

    • star
      April 27, 2017

      no i would not say that.. they were simply trying to get the weapon away from these people.. did you see how the cutlass was going from one hand to the next… in a sence they were really trying to separate the fight the best they could

  6. April 26, 2017

    Only in Dominica i say it once I’ll say it again all now i u all would be scared to sleep indoors trust i forgetting court all now

  7. sassy
    April 26, 2017

    vernal darling, make sure he marry you eh. you already disgrace yourself as a young woman and mother for him. Don’t let him get away with it. You fight like a cowgirl for him. :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

    • allfingsjenno
      April 28, 2017

      you are so right my dear. couldn’t have said it better.

  8. Vanty
    April 26, 2017

    The law in Dominica is backwards so I hope when people take it in their own hands an eye for an eye & get revenge the law do the same for the Pascal & don’t charge him with anything

  9. LifeandDeath
    April 26, 2017

    So they were not arrested therefore no bail, they are still not charged so why wait for court in August?..What is stopping them from taking a long vacation outside Dominica?

    The Courts need to do better than that..they would have hacked the guy to death if they had the chance to..further, they should pay pascal for loss of income seeing that he can’t work due to his injuries..this is Madness!!

  10. April 26, 2017

    Were they fighting for the Mighty Everlasting?

  11. Sweetness
    April 26, 2017

    Hmmm smh

  12. derp
    April 26, 2017

    because they are the common man no charges of attempted murder, now if it was a government officially or someone higher up, listen to the charges which would be brought on them

    • April 26, 2017

      All the matters is confusing . while evething appeard and knows all forbes and trio and rates exchange

  13. papa
    April 26, 2017

    Seriously where are the charges attempted murder

    • April 26, 2017

      i ‘am all the time

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      April 26, 2017

      Did you view the video? It tells the story of what occurred.

  14. shay
    April 26, 2017

    From the time i heard these two were not arrested I know the justice system will just go further down hill. I bet they are only gonna get a slap on the wrist and get to walk out of court. We need to change that in Dominica..people deserve FAIR justice! Wishing the injured gentleman good luck in this case.

  15. mary mary
    April 26, 2017

    The pregnant woman should be charged with endangering the life of an unborn baby too.

  16. star
    April 26, 2017

    what a shame still….no arrests

  17. dady b
    April 26, 2017

    black and white do not lie

  18. April 26, 2017

    I don’t care what the courts say, they should be incarcerated for attempting to take the young man’s life.

  19. FORKIT
    April 26, 2017

    what about those young girls the subdued the defendant.. ARREST THEM TOO

  20. April 26, 2017

    Is video evidence admissible in Dominica’s courts? If so, that couple have lost their case already!

  21. April 26, 2017

    So where’s the attempted murder charge? Or GBV? Was it because they were ‘not arrested’ too?

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