Justice Williams Rules Against Government of Dominica’s Application to Revoke Bail

Barbara 18th December, 2024

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The Dominica High Court has upheld the bail granted to double-murder-accused American citizen Jonathan Lehrer, rejecting the state’s application to have it revoked. Justice Colin Williams delivered the ruling on Monday, December 16, 2024, awarding costs of EC$7,500 against the state.

The state had filed to revoke the $1 million bail granted to Lehrer on November 26, 2024, citing concerns over the severity of the charges and potential flight risk. However, Justice Williams ruled that Lehrer, accused alongside accomplice Robert Snider Jr., would remain free under strict bail conditions, which include revoking his U.S. citizenship.

The charges stem from the alleged murder of French Canadian eco-resort owners Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand. Their charred remains were discovered in a vehicle in Soufriere on December 1, 2023. The vehicle matched the description of the couple’s car, but investigators have relied on circumstantial evidence to connect Lehrer and Snider Jr. to the crime due to the fire damage rendering the bodies unidentifiable.

Lehrer’s defense had initially secured bail on medical grounds, citing deteriorating health and poor conditions at the state prison. The state opposed the bail during earlier hearings, arguing it was unjustified given the gravity of the accusations. Despite these objections, the court granted Lehrer bail with 15 conditions, including a mandate to report to the police and obtain court approval for travel.

Both Lehrer and Snider Jr. remain under strict monitoring as they await their preliminary inquiry, scheduled for February 10, 2025, at the Magistrate’s Court in Roseau. The double-murder case continues to attract significant attention, given its high-profile nature and the unresolved circumstances surrounding the deaths of Langlois and Marchand.