On September 23, the Dominican police and prosecution missed the third court-mandated deadline to deliver evidence discovery in the ongoing case against Jonathan Lehrer—the first being in March followed by July and now September. In an incident that ignited widespread public and media attention, U.S. citizen Jonathan Lehrer was arrested and charged with the murder of Daniel Langlois with no evidence or eyewitness to the crime. Police claim Lehrer was a person of interest and arrested due to an ongoing lawsuit that Langlois brought against Lehrer concerning the usage of a road on Lehrer’s property. Lehrer has now been in Dominican prison since December 2023 with no evidence brought against him.
Even though the Dominican police, led by both Chief of Police Davidson Valerie and Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Jeffrey James, publicly claimed as early as February they have ample evidence to easily close the case, they have not been able to provide any evidence (forensic or witness) in more than nine months that legally demonstrates a tie between Jonathan Lehrer and the crime. The discovery evidence demanded by the magistrates include other elements like the autopsy report, crime scene photos, international expert investigation reports, financial reports, DNA analysis report, vehicle forensic report, GSR and lab reports of tested clothing samples, and supporting chain of custody documentation—all of which the police have stated they have but have refused to share with the defense to date. State Magistrates and the High Court of Dominica have mandated three different deadlines for said evidence discovery and the prosecution has missed every deadline with impunity as Jonathan remains in jail, without even a preliminary hearing.
“The police acted very irresponsibly, very unprofessional and I believe without regard for the law, as they arrested me without any evidence. They acted so quickly, it seems impossible that they could have investigated any other options to this case—to them it was me or nothing. That’s just not how investigations are done,” stated Jonathan Lehrer via his attorney. “They basically arrested me on pure suspicion and subsequently gave multiple statements implicating me at press conferences (as early as February) stating they had all the evidence they needed to close the case. The police portrayed me as guilty to everyone, including the international community, the press, and the people of Dominica. Since those press conferences, they have failed at every court-mandated step to provide any evidence and are now, going on ten months later, complaining to the State that they need more and more time to gather additional evidence. In the meantime, I’m left in a maximum security prison. I’m very ill and I’m being denied medical facilities for needed treatments. There is a good chance that I will die in here and they all know it—one has to wonder if that’s the police endgame.”
Jonathan has been incarcerated in Dominican jail where he is suffering from multiple health issues—most notably the significant possibility of prostate cancer. The Minister of National Security, Raymond Blackmoore, and the Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Jeffrey Edmund, continue to deny any access to treat the possible prostate cancer claiming there is no definitive diagnosis for the disease, but there are no resources on Dominica to make the diagnosis and Lehrer was not allowed to leave the island under Dominican custody to get a definitive answer on the matter. Jonathan has also been denied any access to outside medical assistance, including requested phone calls with prostate cancer specialists.
Moreover, Raymond Blackmoore continues to refuse any and all press access to Jonathan even though the Dominican Constitution (in Section 10) states individuals have a right to "receive and communicate ideas and information without interference." Even worse, while a U.S. citizen is kept in prison without evidence for more than ten months, the U.S. Embassy and State Department have refused to step in on the matter.
Jonathan Lehrer is represented by Pilgrim & Associates.
About KCT Chambers
Even though the Dominican police, led by both Chief of Police Davidson Valerie and Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Jeffrey James, publicly claimed as early as February they have ample evidence to easily close the case, they have not been able to provide any evidence (forensic or witness) in more than nine months that legally demonstrates a tie between Jonathan Lehrer and the crime. The discovery evidence demanded by the magistrates include other elements like the autopsy report, crime scene photos, international expert investigation reports, financial reports, DNA analysis report, vehicle forensic report, GSR and lab reports of tested clothing samples, and supporting chain of custody documentation—all of which the police have stated they have but have refused to share with the defense to date. State Magistrates and the High Court of Dominica have mandated three different deadlines for said evidence discovery and the prosecution has missed every deadline with impunity as Jonathan remains in jail, without even a preliminary hearing.
“The police acted very irresponsibly, very unprofessional and I believe without regard for the law, as they arrested me without any evidence. They acted so quickly, it seems impossible that they could have investigated any other options to this case—to them it was me or nothing. That’s just not how investigations are done,” stated Jonathan Lehrer via his attorney. “They basically arrested me on pure suspicion and subsequently gave multiple statements implicating me at press conferences (as early as February) stating they had all the evidence they needed to close the case. The police portrayed me as guilty to everyone, including the international community, the press, and the people of Dominica. Since those press conferences, they have failed at every court-mandated step to provide any evidence and are now, going on ten months later, complaining to the State that they need more and more time to gather additional evidence. In the meantime, I’m left in a maximum security prison. I’m very ill and I’m being denied medical facilities for needed treatments. There is a good chance that I will die in here and they all know it—one has to wonder if that’s the police endgame.”
Jonathan has been incarcerated in Dominican jail where he is suffering from multiple health issues—most notably the significant possibility of prostate cancer. The Minister of National Security, Raymond Blackmoore, and the Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Jeffrey Edmund, continue to deny any access to treat the possible prostate cancer claiming there is no definitive diagnosis for the disease, but there are no resources on Dominica to make the diagnosis and Lehrer was not allowed to leave the island under Dominican custody to get a definitive answer on the matter. Jonathan has also been denied any access to outside medical assistance, including requested phone calls with prostate cancer specialists.
Moreover, Raymond Blackmoore continues to refuse any and all press access to Jonathan even though the Dominican Constitution (in Section 10) states individuals have a right to "receive and communicate ideas and information without interference." Even worse, while a U.S. citizen is kept in prison without evidence for more than ten months, the U.S. Embassy and State Department have refused to step in on the matter.
Jonathan Lehrer is represented by Pilgrim & Associates.
About KCT Chambers
KCT Chambers is a law chambers located in Bridgetown, Barbados. It was established out of a desire to help individuals and entities capitalize on opportunities, enforce rights, resolve existing challenges and preempt future ones. We believe in practical and legally grounded solutions and are guided by the core principles of accessibility, integrity and diligence. In order to achieve these objectives we apply a progressive, responsive and client-centred approach which is built upon detailed analysis of legal rights and obligations and the provision of clear, timely and consistent advice. For more information, visit https://kctchambers.com.
About Andrew O. G. Pilgrim Q.C.
Mr. Pilgrim is the founder of Pilgrim & Associates, the largest law chambers in Barbados to have a focus on criminal litigation. With over 25 years in practice, he is renowned throughout Barbados and the English-speaking Caribbean for his passionate and inspired representation of his clients. He has leveraged his wealth of knowledge and exceptional oratorical and analytical skills in a plethora of cases which have led to landmark decisions of the Court of Appeal of Barbados and the Caribbean Court of Justice.
About Andrew O. G. Pilgrim Q.C.
Mr. Pilgrim is the founder of Pilgrim & Associates, the largest law chambers in Barbados to have a focus on criminal litigation. With over 25 years in practice, he is renowned throughout Barbados and the English-speaking Caribbean for his passionate and inspired representation of his clients. He has leveraged his wealth of knowledge and exceptional oratorical and analytical skills in a plethora of cases which have led to landmark decisions of the Court of Appeal of Barbados and the Caribbean Court of Justice.
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