A chocolatier from America and his suspected partner have been accused in Dominica, a Caribbean island, of killing a Canadian entrepreneur in animation and owner of an eco-resort, along with his partner. The victims were discovered in a car that had been set on fire.
Jonathan Lehrer, aged 57, and Robert Snider made an appearance at Roseau’s magistrates court on Wednesday, where they were charged with the murders of Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand. They did not plead guilty or not guilty.
Lehrer possesses land adjacent to Coulibri Ridge, an upscale environmentally-friendly resort managed by Langlois and Marchand, recognized by Condé Nast Traveler as a highly-rated location for 2023 and by Travel + Leisure as the most environmentally-friendly resort in the world. There has been a reported conflict between Lehrer and the couple regarding a public road that crosses through Lehrer’s cocoa plantation estate.
According to sources in the area, Radio-Canada reported that Langlois and Marchand were attacked and murdered before their vehicle crashed into a ravine and caught on fire on Friday.
According to reports, the fire that consumed their bodies was extremely strong, forcing authorities to use indirect evidence to identify them. Dominica’s minister of national security, Rayburn Blackmoore, declared on the radio that this heinous and savage act cannot be overlooked and the perpetrators must be held accountable.
Four people have been arrested in connection with the crime, but only Lehrer and Snyder have been charged. They will next appear in court in March.
Lehrer is the owner of the Bois Cotlette estate, a chocolate maker. His father, Robert Lehrer, told the Journal de Montréal that his son was “a successful businessman, not a murderer”.
“I find it difficult to believe…He became frustrated with the illegal crossings on his path and it greatly troubled him, but it had been some time since I received any updates,” he commented.
The Journal reported that Lehrer and Langlois were in a disagreement over the Morne Rouge road, which runs through Lehrer’s land and is the only way to access the eco-resort. It was said that Langlois had arranged a protest against Lehrer.
In 2018, Lehrer attempted to obstruct the path by using rocks and metal pipes and digging a trench. However, the eastern Caribbean supreme court determined that this route was a public road that had been funded by taxpayers. While the court did consider building a second road, they ultimately chose to pursue mediation and ultimately granted Langlois’ workers and visitors unrestricted entry.
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Langlois, a pioneer in computer animation, created groundbreaking 3D animation software that was utilized in blockbuster films such as Jurassic Park, Titanic, The Matrix, and the Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises. In 1994, Langlois sold his company, Softimage, to Microsoft for a staggering $200 million.
The pair dedicated 15 years to constructing Coulibri Ridge on a 285-acre land, which was put on hold for five years due to Hurricane Maria in 2017. The resort boasts five three-storey cottages, its own mini grid for generating power, a system for harvesting rainwater, 90 solar panels, and a spa that operates by appointment only. It has a staff of 40 and three infinity pools.
The National Film Board of Canada, formerly known as Twitter, expressed their deep sorrow upon hearing about the tragic passing of Daniel Langlois. They stated that his impact on the world of cinema is immeasurable.
Source: theguardian.com
