Robbery victim decides not to testify against alleged robbers

Vaughn Dodds and Asher Ferrol while on remand last year.

Two men who have been tied to a string of kidnappings and armed robberies in 2008 were cut some slack today when their alleged victim decided not to testify against them.

Pampers Plus owner Clement Letang, who was allegedly robbed, told Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste this morning that his decision was simply because he forgave the men.

Vaughn Dodds of Wesley and Asher Ferrol of Paix Bouche were relieved of their charges as a result.

According to charges, Dodds, Ferrol and Kurt Registe (deceased) allegedly robbed, kidnapped and conspired to kill Letang on September 16, 2008 in Bath Estate.

The three were additionally charged with possession of a firearm and taking conveyance. It is alleged that they had used the complainant’s car to transact the robbery.

Dodds and Ferrol were said to have stolen over $10,000 worth of items and cash from Letang.

When asked whether he was beaten, threatened or paid to come to his decision, Letang said no.

“I just find sometimes people make mistakes and sometimes you have to forgive them,” he told the magistrate.

“Are you not concerned that Mr. Dodds and Mr. Ferrol will behave in the same way they did before?” the magistrate asked Letang.

“I’m not. I probably should but I’m not…Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. I don’t know,” Letang responded.

Baptiste then warned Dodds: “I’d like to advise you that please in the future watch your behaviour and please conduct yourself in a manner that is in accordance with the law.”

Ferrol, is currently serving a three-year sentence at the Dominica State Prison for a 2008 Donkey Beach robbery.

Dodds, who was also charged with Ferrol on that particular matter, was bailed in October 2009 for $65,000 with two sureties at the high court.

Ferrol did not appear at this morning’s proceedings.

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44 Comments

  1. shady
    September 24, 2010

    all u people just keep talkin shot all u day will come

  2. 1000 POWER
    September 16, 2010

    LET THEM GET OUT OF THE CELL: NO FUN WHEN THEY ARE IN THERE! CURTAINS UP!!!!!!!!

  3. willz
    September 8, 2010

    @de caribbean change: dont worry justice will be served but he not gonna use police for his justice

  4. willz
    September 8, 2010

    @Anonymous: mr letang doesnt deal with no babylon so shut up there.

  5. YES I
    September 8, 2010

    @One-set: HOLD YOUR … ONE SET

  6. Dic
    September 7, 2010

    This shows that the judicial system can be easily misguided. The perpetrators should pay for their crime and not given an opportunity to repeat the same offense.

  7. Anonymous
    September 7, 2010

    are we really serious in domlnlca .what forgiveness has todo with the law .they committed the crime why is the court letting them free .

  8. LCM
    September 7, 2010

    I am no lawyer, but is there not a difference between dropping charges and refusing to testify. The fact he is saying he is forgiving them means that he is admitting that they did the act. Can the state not still pursue the case and prosecute on circumstantial since these guys have a record of such offenses.

    I believe they were intimidated.

    Our justice system is to soft on violent crime. We send a man to prison for smoking weed in his house. These guys need to be locked up for at least ten years.

  9. Domerican
    September 7, 2010

    What message are we sending to our young people or in fact the general population of Dominica? Forgiveness is one thing and would be a personal thing for Mr.Letang, but on the other hand these individuals who terrorize the public with their crimes should have to pay. The police need to step up their game in being able to investigate crimes so that these individuals do not end up walking free just because someone chose to forgive them. This is so ridiculous and makes the justice system back home look LIKE A JOKE.

  10. de caribbean change
    September 7, 2010

    Mr Letang, you need to learn how to be a martyr and not a coward. These guys are thugs and hoodlums and need to be punished harshly. They should never see the streets again for at least 40 years.

  11. T. Winston
    September 7, 2010

    10 gran lost
    almost got killed
    all charges dropped

    Now considering this man as a good samaritan I can see him forgiving however The state has no right to drop all the charges as this is NOT A CIVIL MATTER it is a criminal matter. Hence it becomes evident that the state had no evidence to offer other than the testimony of Mr Letang.

    Time for the police to start doing their job
    I’m all for arresting the guilty but don’t waste people’s time if you arrest them today and are unable to convict them even after 2 years

    Better you catch them after 6 months and convict them another 6 months later instead of wasting time and tax payers money

  12. Wooty Massive
    September 7, 2010

    Hey ppl dnt forget what happen in Jamaican recently with Coke. Vaughn Dodds isn’t untouchable.

  13. Wooty Massive
    September 7, 2010

    @ Wondering you talking bare …. Stop assuming things and get the facts of the matter. We all should be against crimes or any wrong doing. Wake the …………….. Up dude

  14. Anonymous
    September 7, 2010

    PEOPLE I WAS THER IS THOSE POLICE THAT TELL MR LETANG TO SAY THAT THEY HAD NOTHING ON THOSE MAN DOMINICAN DONT LET POLICE FOOL ALL YOU TWO YEARS NOW THEY TRYIN TO PROVE THAT CASE THEY HAD NOTHING ON THEM POLICE LIKE TO CHARGE PEOPLE FOR NOTHING IN THIS COUNTRY ITS TIME TO MAKE POLICE PAY SO THEY WILL KNOW TO GET THERE FACT RIGHT BEFORE THEY CHARGE PEOPLE THEY HAD 24 CHARGES ON THEM MAN ALL WERE DROP THAT WAS THE LAST ONE .ASHER FERROL WAS CONVICTED ON ALL FOUR COUNT OF KEDNAPPING THEM MAN ONLY RANT A RENTAL FROM VAUGHN DODDS THE POLICE KNOW DAMMM WELL DODDS HAD NOTHIN TO DO WITH THE KIDNAPPINGS THATS THE SAME THIN THEY DID WITH THE PREVIOUS MURDER CHARGE AGAINCE HIM THE MAGISTRATE CAN DO THERE WORK VERY WELL IS THOSE POLICE THAT IS FOOL OF MARLICE DOMINICAN STOP TALKIN WHAT ALLYOU DONT KNOW

  15. caribbean gyal
    September 7, 2010

    @Watcher: nice advice.

  16. One-set
    September 7, 2010

    @newtral:

    I cya understand those people nuh. Kidnapping, killing and burglary alone they consider or know to be crimes.

    Money Laundering is ok….Boldface curruption is ok….Possession of assets not proportionate to your legitimate income is ok….

    then they seating and wonder why all these other crimes happening?

    lol….smh

  17. BEST INTEREST
    September 7, 2010

    I will keep praying for my country because we going down by our head now. Do we even have a justice system. Crime must be punished. The victim forgiving the perpetrators should have no bearing on prosecuting the case. The country needs to prosecute the offenders. What is going on in here? This is not a civil matter where the victim is suing. This is a criminal matter. I am so disgusted. These guys will be on the street again, boasting of their achievements and repeating their crimes because there is no consequence. The become fearless. Innocent people will continue to suffer. My only regret is that these criminals do not target the police and lawyers and magistrates and their families because it is only when it hits home we do anything. Just remember the sentence handed down to the two young men who broke into the ASTAPHAN’S home!!!

  18. Jepter
    September 7, 2010

    I can also agree that the offenses are crime against the state and that the state should take it upon itself to prosecute. By stating that he has forgiven the men and the many other things said, i should be interpreted by the court, “Yes, these men have done to me all that which is before you, but the only difficulty is that i am not sure that i can and will be protected by the system. so in this case, i choose life.”

  19. BEST INTEREST
    September 7, 2010

    @wondering: Your comment is so retarded!!

  20. September 7, 2010

    To mouth of the south: I am in full agreement with you. The victim has every right to forgive as his heart desires, but that was a personal decision, which has nothing to do with protecting the public in the future.

    Two men committed a vicious crime and they should be accountable for their attitude and conducts. Those who commit crimes must know that they cannot just decide to hurt other people and to get away with it because the victim decides to forgive. What if they had killed the man; would the judge also decide that there is no witness to testify against them, so let them go free?

    As far as the public is concerned those defendants posed a threat to anyone and every one’s life in their environment, based on their conducts and attitude. In the year 2010, everyone has heard the Holy Words that says: “give your life to God”. There is no more of righteous pampering that will cause wicked people to stop their wickedness. They have to experience a little of the suffering they cause to others around them.

    It is very strange and unfortunate, that the judge should allow the victim alone, to pass complete judgment for this crime on behalf of the public? This just does not make any sense at all.

    So let us hope that there is not only one but three or four dead rats, in that forgiveness from a man who almost lost his life, but lost $10, 000. People make mistake, but we also have to be very careful that some of those mistakes are not repeated. This mistake is one that could happen again, because of the example of judgment.

  21. Fidel
    September 7, 2010

    @ waw time will tell but where does my minister dodds a brother and friedn fit in here

  22. mouth of the south
    September 6, 2010

    thats where dominican law sometimes is full of non sense,,,, the victim forgiving should not have anything to do with the decision of the judge,,,, the court should be able to proceed with the case since the outcome can affect the public,,,,, the court should say,,, ok the victim has forgiven you all,,,, but here are the charges we have against you all,,,, possesion of arms to cause harm,,,,kidnapping etc etc

  23. jb fox
    September 6, 2010

    He will be back.

  24. newtral
    September 6, 2010

    @One-set:
    Well said One Set!!!! I could not have said it better.

  25. mokes
    September 6, 2010

    what happen in the darkness always come out in the light.time heal all wounds.vaughn this is your opportunity to take the step for change think about your kids and wife your family change my boiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  26. Waw
    September 6, 2010

    Alas, Vaugh loose in Wesley. Have mercy on us all. Rev Dodds used his little prayer book. mercy, mercy, mercy

  27. September 6, 2010

    the police is just being bias dodds was not part of wat happen to letang dodds did not want letang dead.if letang say he forgive dodds and ferrol that was on his behalf so what about the fire arm charges did the state forgive dodds on that too or there was no evidence on it. it is simply common sense that dodds was not involve and they ashamed to say that. real talk

  28. September 6, 2010

    wondering…………………..

  29. wondering
    September 6, 2010

    wondering………….

  30. Anonymous
    September 6, 2010

    wat

  31. Unknown
    September 6, 2010

    Is this the way we are promoting crime? Well, God help us from this corrupt system we all live in. You are doing a disservice to our communities.

  32. One-set
    September 6, 2010

    but what rat allu smelling nuh?

    On December 18th, all of allu forgive those bunch of thieves and vagabons…

    Mr. Letang cannot forgive too then?

    so what if they break the law?….

    is one set alone that breaking the law in Dominica??

  33. scrappy coco
    September 6, 2010

    letang is scared of vaughn and vaughn match coming soon. thats all i can say

  34. soldier
    September 6, 2010

    @Well:
    what school you went with letang?
    quite lying. the dude left DA when he was a child
    so what u knw about dude.

  35. Well
    September 6, 2010

    I think there is more to it than than. I went to school with Letang and he is not so much of a forgving person he likes tit for tat. I smell a rat, a pig and lots more.

  36. .............
    September 6, 2010

    I smell a rat too! Something waiting for them, not in those hard times would a businessman just let over $10, 000 go just like that because he claims to “forgive” people who plotted to take his life and wealth.
    Take my word: we shall hear about them sooner or later. When all you hear/see them, don’t be surprised.

  37. Anonymous
    September 6, 2010

    This is jus a bunch of BS. I can’t wat Vaughn has over people that he is getting away with all sorts of crimes. One of these days he will get his just reward

  38. Watcher
    September 6, 2010

    Young men . you have been given a second chance like Jonah in the Belly of the Whale.

    What I can tell you though is watch what you are going to do with your second chance. Mr Letang has forgiven you. A lot of persons will not understand that and why. If you do not use your second chance wisely, then you will suffer the consequence of hardening your heart (so many things can happen to you including untimely death). You need now to repent and turn from your ways. Be really sorry for what you have done.. I can only offer a word of advice… the rest is up to you. Ask the persons you have wronged for forgiveness and let your light shine so persons can really see that you have changed. You have to earn your respect from others. But remember that you cannot do all these things if you do not develop a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father who forgives us unconditionally. Find and frequent person who will lift you up spiritually and will pull you up when you are stumbling. Do not allow the enemy to take over you again. You have to make a concerted effort. Invite the Father into your life and purge and cleanse your heart and your thinking about malicious thing that will definitely get you in trouble. Remember you parents who I am sure are hurting. Probably you have young children. Think about the consequences of your action. Clean you way of thinking and your mind.

    Young men it is up to you.

  39. MARIGOT
    September 6, 2010

    ALAS!!!! INTIMIDATION IN THE HIGHEST FORM. BUT MR LETANG FEAR NO 1 GONE 2 TO GO.

  40. Valda Bruno - Durand
    September 6, 2010

    AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW HOW TOUCHING!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAA

  41. shatta
    September 6, 2010

    jack**

  42. 56
    September 6, 2010

    Its all well and good to forgive but, all these things will allow ppl to think they can do harm and get anyway these guys should get a few years, they broke the law

  43. Confused man
    September 6, 2010

    I guess Letang isn’t scared one bit of these men repeating what they did. Then again remember this saying, “Money talks and bulls.. walks.”

  44. men
    September 6, 2010

    I SMELL A RAT!!!!

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