New member and Prison in Saint Lucia

[CataPleiades]

I am a french professional based in Martinique and I joined this forum a few minutes ago in order to see how, as a maritime community, we could help our friend Eric Sommer who is in jail in Saint Lucia for more than one year now.

As I was reading the thread discussing about his case, the thread was closed....

The question is not to discuss what exactly happened, nobody knows. The question is to start intitiatives to help him.

It makes now more than one year that he is in jail, the judge postponed the judgement 8 times now, arguing that some pieces were missing, yes it makes 8 times that the judge decided to postpone the audience.

His case is fully known in the french major forum as Sail The World or Hisse et Oh.

I do believe that Saint Lucia being in the commonwealth and very sensitive to anglosaxon opinions, perhaps some initiatives coming from this community could help.

Thank you for your attention.

CaptainRV

[Teknav]

Since he is a French citizen, the closest French embassy/consulate should at least visit with him and report on his condition. Absence of that, the International Red Cross should be brought into his plight. It should also try to negotiate his release. As this is not a sailing issue/topic, his thread was closed. In reality, there is really nothing that we can do to secure his release. I am not even sure if anyone knows what he did, to wind up in jail for so many months. A bientot!
Mauritz

[Astrid]

I heard his trial has been set for the end of this month.

News | Riviera Radio

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by CataPleiades

we could help our friend Eric Sommer who is in jail in Saint Lucia

Why do you consider he is a friend of ours?????

He is in jail, on remand for a murder trial. The trail starts at the end of June. I have faith in the justice system and think and hope the truth will prevail. Untill the matter is heard in an open court please dont tell me who is a friend and who is not.

The dead man may turn out to be the person wronged!


Mark

[boatman61]

I don't think trying to bring pressure on the St Lucia judicial system will achieve much... Commonwealth member or not.
In case you did not hear the speeches in Jamaica not so long ago...
"It's time Jamaica had its own Queen"... a statement greeted by roars of approval...
The days of Anglo-Saxon influence from Europe are over... they don't depend on us for anything any more.. minimum contribution to the island.. and we're former dictators and slave owners as a race...
No... I think cruisers on the Net will have little effect apart from piss folk off..
His case is running its course... should it turn into a travesty of justice... get the Media involved... preferably the US (Fox) media as that's where the money and power lie... after all...
Miami is the Capital of the Caribbean...

[Coops]

I'm with Mark on this, no friend of ours to my knowledge. To be honest I do not even see why this would be a place to post this.

Coops.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Teknav

Since he is a French citizen, the closest French embassy/consulate should...

Yes. The French consulate is the place to go to get him some help. Media attention might help, also. This forum cannot do anything.

Whether he is innocent or not, I hope that justice is done soon. Unfortunately, justice tends to take a lot longer in the islands than we are accustomed to in certain other parts of the world.

[Captain Grandpa]

Should it be that his man is not guilty I feel very bad for his extended stay in a 3rd world prison. In my white bread world I cannot even imagine the misery he is facing on a daily basis. That being said, were this to happen here in our country I would fully expect him to stand trial. How can a man be released on bail if his only tie to the area is his anchor. Few fatality investigations take less than a year. Recently my wife and I had a visit from a lawyer regarding a trial/appeal for a murder over 20 years ago.

This must be amazingly difficult for him, his friends and his family. However if it is the delay that allowed evidence to be found for his acquittal...

I hope justice prevails. And for the sakes of all those involved I hope it's soon. The only entity who could reasonably expect success in expediting this would be his govt. even still considering the need many of these countries have to assert their authority I'm not really sure what the French govt. would really be able to accomplish

[David_Old_Jersey]

My feeling is that even trying to bring "pressure" on St Lucia will be counter-productive, ex-colonials can be a bit chippy about former lords & masters.....as our US members can testify and sometimes demonstrate .

Probably better off sticking to practical help.....look after the dog, the boat and maybe help with his jail living expenses - and if any cash left then with the lawyer (I presume by now he has one that is half decent). Having a group set up with these aims and actually doing stuff will show that Eric is not forgotten by the wider world (to both the prison authorities and the legal system) but will not be screaming that St Lucia is a Banana Republic etc etc.

Of course harder to get folks to part with cash from pocket than to shout abuse on the internet! (if only that could be monetised ).......but I leave that one to others.

I have no idea whether he is innocent or guilty, from the story heard so far played at least some part in his own "bad luck" and not helped (himself) by not keeping gob shut - a year or so in jail awaiting the outcome is tough, but that's simply the price of being a genuine flight risk on a capital crime.....process might be different elsewhere but likely timescale and location of wait would not be.

If folks want a system of justice like it is at "home" then yer know what to do - stay there ....otherwise yer get to suck it up, whether in full prior knowledge or ignorance that is slowly dispelled by events.........

[Bash]

Originally Posted by CataPleiades

As I was reading the thread discussing about his case, the thread was closed....

The thread was closed for good reason. Opening up a new one to take its place is an exercise in futility.

[lenseman]

Does anyone known who is looking after Eric's yacht in St Lucia whilst he is incarcerated.

I hope that it has not been stripped of equipment whilst he is locked up.



.

[category4jay]

As long as the thread stays on topic it should stay open.

[category4jay]

Originally Posted by S/V_Surya
For those interested here is a youtube video of Eric and his boat.
Protinus bateau exceptionnel - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...Q&noredirect=1

Heres a little insight for whats its worth.

[category4jay]

any update on this?

[MarkJ]

Still in the lockup awaiting trial.

I was told by a journalist that he is not a 'Cruiser'.
Also an indication that the story we have on here may not be according to the facts as others know them.

So we will have to wait and see.

He has been in jail now for 22 months. So it, if the facts confirm his story, shows that you just cannot kill locals and claim self defense and expect to walk out without charge. You may well be charged and then have 2 years in jail proving your "rights" to send someone to Kingdom Come.