As the bail controversy continues regarding double murder accused Jonathan Lehrer who is charged with murdering Dominique Marchand and Daniel Langlois between November 29, 2023, and December 2, 2023, at Bois Cotlette in Soufriere the people of the Soufriere constituency and staff of Colibri Ridge staged protest action outside the High Court on January 13, 2025.
News spread that Lehrer who High Court Judge Colin Williams granted bail of one million EC dollars was back in court seeking a variation in his bail conditions.
The State through its specially appointed prosecutor Thomas Astaphan KC has vigorously opposed bail and opposed the application for the variation of the bail conditions.
As the protest intensified outside the courthouse, the atmosphere in the courthouse was “tense” as Justice Williams was preparing to hear the application for the proposed bail variation.
He then summoned King Counsel (KC) on both sides to his Chambers and was then advised by the State’s prosecuting team that he should “recuse himself from the matter since they had information that was not helpful to him.”
After much debate in the tense atmosphere, the State’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) proceeded to file an affidavit supporting its reasons to have Justice Williams recuse himself from the matter.
According to a well-informed source, the office of the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court was also written to and it was felt that “it was in the best interest of the Judge to recuse himself from the matter.”
“As the pressure mounted and documents were filed the decision then was made that he had finally decided to recuse himself from the matter,” the source stated.
It is expected that a new Judge will be now assigned to deal with the matter by the office of the Chief Justice.
Protesters outside the High Court
