Two charged with murder of Quebecer Daniel Langlois and partner in Dominica
Two men have been charged in the death of Quebec-born film entrepreneur Daniel Langlois and his partner in the Caribbean nation of Dominica, the country's director of public prosecutions said Thursday.
Sherma Dalrymple told a news conference that Jonathan Lehrer and Robert Thomas Snider were charged Wednesday with the murders of Langlois and his partner, Dominique Marchand.
She said the two men appeared in court but have not yet entered a plea, adding that a preliminary inquiry is scheduled for March 15.
The bodies of Langlois, 66, and Marchand, 58, were found last Friday in a burned out car near the luxury resort they owned in Dominica, a small volcanic island located between Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Police spokesman Jeoffrey James told reporters at the news conference that officers made three arrests after they visited a property close to what investigators believe is "a secondary crime scene." A fourth person was later taken into custody.
It was not clear whether the other two people arrested will face charges, but James said the investigation is ongoing.
"We are devoted to having justice served in this matter," he said, adding that police understand the high level of public interest in the case, both locally and internationally.
Court documents show that Lehrer was in a dispute with Langlois dating back several years over the use of a public road that crossed his property and led to the Quebec couple's luxury ecotourism resort, which was under construction at the time.
Lehrer, a property owner and chocolate producer, allegedly blocked access to Morne Rouge Public Road in October 2018 by digging a trench and placing boulders on the roadway, according to court documents.
Langlois sued Lehrer, arguing for a permanent injunction to ensure the road be opened. A first injunction was granted in 2018.
In 2019, an Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court judge ruled the road had to be opened up to allow Langlois' employees and guests access to the resort.
Langlois was a well-known businessman and founder of Softimage, a company whose 3D technology was used to create special effects in blockbusters such as "Jurassic Park," "Titanic" and "Lord of the Rings." He later started a foundation in his name to support arts and technology, and was involved in charitable endeavours helping Dominica recover from, and build resilience to, national disasters.
In 2022, he and Marchand opened Coulibri Ridge, a luxury hotel in Dominica that describes itself as an "eco-retreat."
Local media reported that during Wednesday's arraignment of Lehrer and Snider, angry residents gathered outside the courthouse in Roseau, lauding Langlois' contributions and generosity toward the community and wondering what his loss would mean for their own futures.
On Thursday, friends of the couple and community members in Dominica gathered for a memorial sunset paddle and a candlelight vigil.
People on kayaks held up their paddles in unison while many more residents watched from the shore. Flowers were tossed into the water as part of the tribute, with a minute of silence held at sunset in an event that was livestreamed on social media.
Simon Walsh, a friend of the couple, described the event in a Facebook post as a "tribute" and a "positive moment" recognizing the couple's love for Dominica and for Soufriere, a village near the resort.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Dec. 7, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Most of the city is evacuating': Gridlock on Alberta highway after evacuation order in Fort McMurray
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Sask. police seize 1.5M pieces of evidence, lay 60 more charges in child exploitation case
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
Biden administration moving ahead on US$1 billion arms package for Israel, AP sources say
The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it is sending a new package of more than US$1 billion in arms and ammunition to Israel, two congressional aides said Tuesday.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
'Inappropriate' behaviour shuts down Dublin to New York City portal
Less than a week after two public sculptures featuring a livestream between Dublin, Ireland, and New York City debuted, 'inappropriate behaviour' in real-time interactions between people in the two cities has prompted a temporary shutdown.
King Charles III unveils his first official portrait since his coronation
King Charles III has unveiled the first portrait of the monarch completed since he assumed the throne, a vivid image that depicts him in the bright red uniform of the Welsh Guards against a background of similar hues.
About 1,000 wildfires confirmed so far this year: Here's a quick look at the situation in Canada
Nearly 1,000 wildfires have burned across Canada so far this year. Here's an overview of the situation in Canada.
American sought after 'So I raped you' Facebook message detained in France on 2021 warrant
An American accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, 'So I raped you,' has been detained in France after a three-year search.