The two suspects in the murders of Daniel Langlois and his wife, Dominique Marchand, will have to stand trial. Their request was rejected by the courts in Dominica, after the accused pleaded not guilty.
• Also read: Murders of entrepreneur Daniel Langlois and his wife in Dominica: the two accused plead not guilty
The two Americans are accused of having orchestrated the murders of the Quebec businessman and his wife in December 2023, in Dominica.
Dominica’s High Court on Monday dismissed an “abuse of process action” brought by defense lawyers for double murder accused Jonathan Lehrer and his co-defendant Robert Snider Jr.
The defense had approached the Court alleging that the State had “abused the procedure” and that, as a result, their client would not benefit from a fair trial.
Co-defendants Robert Snyder Jr. and Jonathan Lehrer return to court on December 10, 2024
Photo taken in December 2024 by Carlisle Jno Baptiste
The judge set a trial date for June 26, 2026.
On April 15, the two American nationals were officially indicted, and the murder charges were read to them. They have pleaded not guilty to the murder.
The prosecution claims that between November 29 and December 2, 2023, the two Americans murdered Mr. Langlois and Ms. Marchand, whose bodies were found charred in a car near Gallion, in the south of the island where they owned a hotel. The couple had been missing for several days.
Owner of the Bois Cotlette chocolate factory, Jonathan Lehrer had been in conflict for several years with the Quebec entrepreneur over the use of the Morne Rouge public road, which allows access to the Hôtel des Québécois via his land.
Caught in this dispute, the two men went to the highest court on the island, which ruled, in 2019, that the road was public and that Mr. Langlois’ clients could use it freely.
