American Nationals Plead Not Guilty to Murder Charges in Dominica

ROSEAU, Dominica – Two United States nationals Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the 2023 murder of Canadian Daniel Langlois and his partner, Dominique Marchand.

Jonathan Lehrer, 57, and 62-year-old Robert Snider Jr were charged with the murders of animation pioneer and Canadian philanthropist Langlois and his 58-year-old longtime partner.

They appeared before High Court Judge Sejilla McDowall, where the defense counsel, Tiyania Behanzin, had tried unsuccessfully for the indictment not be to read out to the accused.

The defence had argued that they had filed documents of “abuse of process” on behalf of the men and that it was improper to have the charges read to them before.

However, the prosecution led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sherma Dyrample, objected, explaining to the court that the indictment as filed was properly before the court and that there was no reason why they should not be read to them to have them enter a plea.

The judge agreed with the prosecution and ruled that the indictment ought to be read to them and have them enter a plea of “guilty or not guilty.”

The defense was, however, given time to properly file and serve on the prosecution, who will have to respond to the complaints of “abuse of process” as alleged by the defense.

The prosecution alleges that between November 29 and December 2, 2023, the two Americans murdered Langlois and Marchand, whose bodies were found incinerated in a car near Gallion, in the south of the island where they owned a hotel. Langlois and Marchand had been reported missing for several days.

The murder of the Canadians came amidst a long-standing property access dispute over a public road. Lehrer owned the 53-acre Bois Cortlette Inc Estate next to Langlois’s sustainable resort,  Coulibri Ridge.

The matter has been adjourned to May 1, 2026.