Former prisoner goes back to jail

Eric Joseph

Eric “Zey” Joseph, who spent 25 years in jail after being convicted for the murder of farmer Ted Honeychurch, is now an inmate at the State prison.

He was arrested in early October 2012 and charged for throwing missiles and making threats to Gloria Prosper of REACH.

When he appeared in court on Friday before magistrate Ossie Lewis, Joseph requested “self bail” but was told that while bail was “open” he needed a “proper surety.”

Police prosecutor Inspector Claude Weekes told the court Joseph needs proper supervision because he continues to get into difficulties. “We know his history and story but it appears when he is out he misbehaves and we have to protect the people and society,” he said.

While agreeing with Inspector Weekes, Magistrate Lewis explained that the charges are “summary” and Joseph has already been on remand for almost four months and would have served “his time” when it is heard on January 25th 2013.

Joseph in response told the court, “I am innocent of the matter.”

He was further denied bail with his matter set for January 25,2013.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

59 Comments

  1. DCA
    January 14, 2013

    Everyone being negative and not vtrying to get to terms with what happen..
    The best for this guy is to get the true information from him and write a book abut the incident. give him a little change so he can live with the guilt until the master is ready for him.
    PUNISHING HIM leave me with no doubt that you are just as bad as him.
    So go on do the right thing and work with this guy to get that little history of Dominica out there…

    • Malgraysa
      January 14, 2013

      Aren’t you behind the times a bit? Mr. had a chance to give his story in ocurt more than 25 years ago. You really expect him to say anything different?

  2. Anonymous
    January 13, 2013

    People need to live and let live.

  3. Afriko
    January 13, 2013

    The matter is quite simple. DNO I did not see my earlier comment posted, so I will repeat.

    Zeye killed and disposed of Ted Honeychurch in a most bloody and brutal way. Eric Jopseph is suffering from the memory of this crime every waking hour. Most commentators here dont even know the details.

    Zeye and his padners burned down the Honeychurch’s home,kidnapped Ted and his wife and two workers.

    Zeye himself still has the wounds on his leg caused when he sprayed the gasoline on the house and lighted it. They tortured Honeychurch and blew his brains out, put the dismembered remains in a bag and burned it in the bush.

    Then Zeye’s friends left him for dead at the bottom of a ravine near Delices. A farmer dragged him out onto the main road, from where he was taken to the police headquarters smelling, injured and deranged.

    When you been through all that and every day you have to remember what you did and what you saw. You bound to go mad….no amount of ‘rehabilitation’ can cure that.His past haunts him every day, every hour…that is what is happening.

    • Delices massive
      January 14, 2013

      Afriko, u know your history. thats how it went down…

  4. Oust Them!
    January 13, 2013

    :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: :?: I thought prison was a place to rehabilitate those who commits crime and criminal related offenses?It’s pointless sending a man to this institution and not having the professionals to deal with them while incarcerated,especially for a long period of time and having to let this person back in the communities without being able to deal with the pressures out there.This man should have been trained in there with some skills and should have been allowed to be productive while serving his time.When the time comes for his release,equip him with the necessary tools for the skill he learnt and a place to carry on his business,even if he would have to pay as he earn.The release of this man was based on pure political partisan campaign grounds and was not genuine.Elections was near and the government wanted the support of the rastas who were asking for his release.This was a pure pilate and barabas kind of move!That’s why i’ve got no respect for these rastas,speaking different languages from the two corners of their mouth!Never make a politician grant u no favor,they’ll want to control u forever! :oops: :twisted: :?:

  5. My Sunshine has come
    January 13, 2013

    I think in D/ca we have a lack of proper facilities. In Mr Joseph case he needed to go to a rehabilitation centre first before allowed back in the community. This is why the prison in stockfarm is full because we have people in there really and truly should be in a rehab facility.

  6. Merina Mckenzie
    January 12, 2013

    Mr. Telemaque,in the past, I use to agree and applaud you on most topics of grave citizens concern.
    However, regarding Mr. Joseph’s imprisonment, your response has displayed real ignorance. How can you laugh at a situation like that? The man was incarcerated for 25 yrs, with little or no human interaction.
    To be the best of my knowledge, we do not have any registered rehabilitation facility where he could have gone, before the end of his sentence.
    If we do not act quickly and give him the help he needs, he will kill again.
    He does not know how to live and cope outside of the prison walls. It is not a joke. He will strike again! Is someone listening?

    • January 13, 2013

      Merina Mckenzie, I am not at least laughing after this man, what you do not understand is that neither you nor any other Dominican told that man, or caused him to murder Mr. Honeychurch, an innocent man who made a living as a farmer.

      Be reminded that this murdered someone simply because they say he was white, we are talking about Lennox Honeychurch father here. I knew his father way back when I was a mere kid, and of all the people I’ve known, I don’t think there are many negative things one can recall about him.

      Yes, the murderer spent twenty-five years in jail, but the life he took is gone forever, his children, and grand children grew up not knowing him, the penalty for murder should always be death, this man in Dominica should be hung for the life of the person he took.

      Psychiatric problem: you are talking about psychiatry; I studied psychology; as a matter of fact the science of the mind and behavior, and went all the way into abnormal psychology, so I think I can determine if someone is crazy or not!

      Many Dominicans talk and write stuff simply because they have a computer, I am not like that; when I give my opinion it is usually based on some fact.

      You can act off your emotions and feel sorry for him, but I granite you that given the opportunity, that same guy you are felling sorry for, if he gets the chance he will kill you!

      And you better believe that!

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      • Merina Mckenzie
        January 14, 2013

        Mr. Telemaque:
        I am in no means feeling sorry for the man. He committed a heinous crime which he was incarcerated for. However because of the time that he spent behind the prison walls without proper treatment and rehabilitation he will kill again(psychologist) that is what I am saying.As for him killing me, chances are very slim.
        The fact that he is Lennox Honeychurch father does not make his life any more valuable than the other farmers who were killed and terrorise during the “dread” era.
        I knew Mr. Ted Honeychurch very well. He was a decent human being who happen to be a victim of a society that was created by hate.You
        said you studied psychology–liberal arts, piece of cake. That is the major of most under-archievers. Since you can determine his condition as oppose to diagnosing tells me something of your psychological qualification.
        Well, “I am hook on phonics, contniue to educate me”.

    • Malgraysa
      January 14, 2013

      Merina, he was given alife sentence remember? He was only let out earlier because of agitation by the “brothers”.After that, when they find his mind was troubled they just leave him and don’t want to associate with him. Where is the noise about helping a “brother” now. Shame on all of you!

      • Merina Mckenzie
        January 14, 2013

        That is one of the reasons, I will not support the Caribbean Court of Appeal. It will be tainted by politics and corruption.
        A convict sentence should not be comitted because a group of his peers agitate.
        Well you can ask psychologist Telemaque for his take( fascitious). Since he is the only academia who contrbutes to DNO.

  7. Daney Doway
    January 12, 2013

    When he came out a house was given to him but he was asked to pay $450.00 per month, with no money, mischif became the order of him, went back on drugs, started cursing people and stoning them. Even the prist at newtown got his share from Joseph, the all the people who ask for his realise neglected him not one not one of them check on him,

  8. JB
    January 12, 2013

    Sorry! I have no sympathy for convicted murderers. I believe that if you commit murder in cold blood you should pay with your life. If that was the case we wouldn’t have these problems today.

    • Anonymous
      January 13, 2013

      know ur history b4 u talk. it was a gang thing he took the fall but are you fure he was the murderer?

  9. Distured
    January 12, 2013

    Won’t take the “word” of others. Until i know the true situation…canna say whether he shud or shudn’t go in the pen.

  10. lee
    January 12, 2013

    After 25 years in jail God gave him a second chance they did not hang his out he should try to behave himself.

  11. Get real, Dominicans
    January 12, 2013

    I know of ex convicts repatriated to their country of birth, Dominica including, from America. However, before America repatriates them, they collaborate with these countries and ensure programs are in place for these ex convicts to re-adjust in society. Programs such as employment, training etc. By the way, you dont have to be a repatriated ex convict; majority of countries follow such programs for ex convicts so why cant Dominica do the same? And if they do, why dont they utilize it. After all it would benefit both ex convicts and the rest of society.

  12. Raj
    January 12, 2013

    Sorry but by the way didn’t Behanzin say that he would not be doing criminal law. Say one thing do another

  13. Raj
    January 12, 2013

    Why dont we hear Behanzin on this one. it is a disgrace for a magistrate to sit in court and say that by the time the case is heard the man will have made his time in jail guilty or not guilty. this is a national disgrace. this Magistrate should resign.

  14. Anonymous
    January 11, 2013

    :mrgreen: :twisted: :oops: :?: :-x :-P :-? 8) :cry: :-| :lol: 8-O :( :wink: :-D :) 8-O :lol: oh boy

  15. Jahyout
    January 11, 2013

    Before a long term Prison lives the jail he should have time out in the community where he has to go back to. like a weekend home now and then. Thats how i am seeing it being done where i am.So he is slowing making it back into society..

    • past tense
      January 11, 2013

      boy bruno. thats dominica and not anguilla. was it done fopr andy otto.

  16. Rebekkah
    January 11, 2013

    Once a sociopath, always a sociopath. I am not at all surprised.

  17. Doing it
    January 11, 2013

    Murderers get bail, MURDERERS GET BAIL, the man denied bail for throwing misiles and threats. An Obvious sick man.

  18. Kryptonite
    January 11, 2013

    Poor guy is institutionnalised ( been in prison for so long the walls of the prison became his friend guess he just wanted to go back home).

  19. Dominican for sure
    January 11, 2013

    ….and where is the “house of niabingay” who was lobbying for his release all these years? They said they had all support services in place. Where are they now?

    • Come
      January 13, 2013

      Could not have said it better

  20. Mo Mo
    January 11, 2013

    This man has become institutionalised. After so many years in prison, leaving a person to their own devices serves nobody. He needs support not punishment for the ske of not only himself, but society. Sad situation :(

  21. Patriotic B
    January 11, 2013

    He obviously needs some type of re-entry into society. I do hope that he and others in his situation can benefit from some type of program for their own good and that of society.

  22. January 11, 2013

    :( :?: its had for 25 yrs in jail papa

    • faceup
      January 12, 2013

      You done know !!

  23. Oust Them!
    January 11, 2013

    :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: :?: Although i’m one who thinks and believes that this man deserves to be given a chance,and rightfully so!So too i believe in Karma and judgement,meaning we all will suffer the consequences of our actions,if we have not surrendered to JAH and truely make a spiritual change in reconcialation to JAH!Where are those rastas who compared him with Nelson Mandela for spending 27 years in jail,which i find to be a ridiculous statement given the reason this man was in prison for!The rastas are so divided within themselves that there’s little they can do to really impact society!All i see rastas in Dominica doing is blow their brains with soke and listen to music and say rastafari.Rastas need to apologise to the world for their wrong teachings and philosophy wish brainwash the youths into smoking!Stop believing in a dead god you who call yourselves rasta !Even Selasie himself believed in the true and living spiritual GOD! Selasie himself called rastas a bunch of lazy people who just smoke! :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: :?:

  24. bee
    January 11, 2013

    He spent half of his life behind bars and its difficult for him to deal with it, maybe society is making it worst. I don’t know this guy but being in jail he could easily provoked by others just see him behaind bars.

    • Troy
      January 12, 2013

      Society did not send him to commit any crime/murder. Society have nothing to do with this man behaviour he is an adult and was when he did what he did,he is his worst enemy, i listened to him sometime last year blaming this person and that person

      The guy need to take responsibility for his actions, as we all know we can lead the horse to the water, but we cannot force it to drink the water, this guy mentality is that people owes him everything and want everything hand down to him on a silver platter, he need to change his mentality until then Lord knows

      This guy is not being provoke by no one,the guy is his own worst enemy period, I had a long talk with him, we talk about religion work and some other things, and i have to say that he is not yet ready to integrate in society, his thinking sucks big them blaming blaming and blaming others for not giving him this and that, as i told him he have no one to blame but himself

    • looking on
      January 13, 2013

      so true

  25. Pundit
    January 11, 2013

    Where are all the rastarfarians who was crying for his release and those family members who wanted free?? Is this a case of karma??

  26. WE
    January 11, 2013

    sad

  27. Big-Bannan
    January 11, 2013

    While this man may be in the wrong; my question is do we have a system that assists prisoners integrate back into society after 25 years behind bars? Are we therefore curbing the problem, or are we adding wood to the fire?

  28. Too Sot
    January 11, 2013

    Where is the justice in locking up a man for 4 months in a matter that will probably get Him 3 months jail time?

    • B.E.B
      January 12, 2013

      He is happyer in jail,there he do not have to beg for meals and a shelter over his head

  29. January 11, 2013

    Yes, that is the man who claimed that Salassie told him that he is better than jail, and that Dominica government owes him his money, and how the promised him a house and up to now they cannot give him his house.

    I suppose that he believes Dominica tax payers owe him for the murdering of an innocent man for no other reason than the color of his skin!

    Psychologically, ex-convicts, such as murderers usually have difficulties dealing with the outside world after spending such long periods in jail, therefore after their release they wilfully commits crimes that will cause them to return to jail.

    I believe he willfully committed that offence of throwing missiles (rock stone ) so that he could be sent back to jail so that he can get jail house food fro free oui!

    Perhaps he intended to kill somebody again so that he could get life, and have Dominica people feed him for as long as he is alive .

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

    The penalty for murder should always be death, if they hung him in the first place he would not be a problem for society right now.

    He showed no remorse for the murdering of Honeychurch!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • Come
      January 13, 2013

      Whereas I agree with most of your points, the ‘hahahaha’ and the like are absolutely unnecessary. This is way too much a grave matter for laughter or should I say intended laughter.

  30. no name
    January 11, 2013

    this man surely needs help; proper psychiatric evaluation because 25 years in prison is a very long time

  31. IKR
    January 11, 2013

    Where is the community that was rallying for their brother’s release? For years they chanted “Free Zeye”, petitioned the government and championed his cause on the media and in the streets. What now? Didn’t they think this through? Were they prepared to accept responsibility for him when he was eventually released? Twenty five is a very long time to be away from society and the brother is obviously having a difficult time adapting.

    • Free
      January 12, 2013

      That is the two faced manner of many Dominicans.

    • IsDat!!
      January 13, 2013

      ” the brother have a difficult time adapting”? The man murder an innocent man in cold blood, he could have spent a thousand years in jail, he will and would never beable to live with his concience for the rest of his life, that in itself is imprisonment, unless if he repent and give his life to Christ, and even then he will still keep remembering what he do, but maybe his life would be less troubled. Even as he is in prison right now, he still will not beable to live with himself. Murder is Murder! I see know reason why he thinks Government, or Society owes him anything. All is woes is between he and the Almighty God!

  32. faceup
    January 11, 2013

    Well that is what happens,when the guy is let out to society without no help after being out of society for 25 year’s, the government just dump the guy on the streets with no help, poor guy i know what he is going through, in there he will get fat and sleep well at least on a bed. I would have done the same..

    • faceup
      January 11, 2013

      Mr Skerit,what’s up?,STAY ON TOP OF YOUR JOB !!

    • viewpoint
      January 12, 2013

      The transition from prison to life on the outside can be difficult for anyone, but for older adults the challenge of reintegrating into society can be particularly arduous. With few social services available to help, the difficulties they face often go unnoticed as is clear with the case at hand. Older inmates have become accustomed to the structure of prison life; living with much less structure and very few social contacts on the outside are two of the biggest challenges they face when they leave.

  33. Anonymous
    January 11, 2013

    all u ppl really wicked let d man go on time served

  34. DA To THE BONE
    January 11, 2013

    Twenty (25) years in prison is a very long time for a human. I guess he is having a hard time dealing with everyday life. I am not sure if Dominica have a rehab program for inmates before they are release back into society. If they don’t they should look into one.

    • Peeping Tom
      January 11, 2013

      There is one.

    • Anonymous
      January 11, 2013

      TAKE HIM IN . HE DOESN’T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

  35. \
    January 11, 2013

    Mr joseph rather to be in prison. those who were fighting for him, dnt no him while he is out. he dosent has a proper home.

    • AHA
      January 11, 2013

      say what?

    • girl
      January 11, 2013

      @\ i agree..

    • Concerned
      January 11, 2013

      I support that one hundred percent…all those brethens ans sisterens and his daughter that were marching and calling for his release every African Liberation Day Celebration now he is out they forget he exist and he is on the streets begging, dirty and miserable. where are they now when he needs them to cope be society which has changed so much in the 25 yrs he has been in prison where he got his three meals and was told when to sleep, eat, drink and use the bathroom. Come on all those Ras out there, u know ur names!

    • B.E.B
      January 11, 2013

      I know for sure that lawyer who was strongly behind him beihg released from prison dont even know whether he is alive now
      DA TO THE BONE commented that 25 yrs. in prison is a very long time for a human.What I will say, the guy did the crime so he should do the time.Now he is out living his life. Some families are without a husband, without fathers , brothers nephews , nieces and the list goes on

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available