In Prison in St Lucia

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

seems on this thread people are generally assuming the guy didn't do anything wrong

we still know nothing really, but I have this feeling that once the details are known things are going to change

IF... The guy in jail was aboard his boat...

AND, the other guy came aboard with intention to harm him....

THEN... I hope he gets off.

There, I hope that is ok.

[sabray]

Any word in this case?

[Shrubb]

I searched news after the last trial which should have occurred on January 18th, but found nothing so far.

[MarkJ]

Trial is in June, isnt it? Wont hear much before.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by weto

A "fight" on board his boat with another human that snuck onto his boat w/o his permission! The rest of what you said was based on yours or somebody else's opinion. Makes my point, thanks.

It may be that this "snuck onto his boat w/o his permission" is one of the facts in question.

I've read enough newspaper articles about things I have done, that I barely recognized as being me when I read them, to figure there is probably a lot more to this story, either good or bad.

I hope it works out for him if he is innocent.

[SaltyTanned]

The "murdered" man was on the deck of Sommers yacht when Sommer came on deck. The "murder" victim would not explain what he was doing aboard (he was a known drug pusher) words became loud, a fight ensued and the victim fell in the bay and swam away to shore as the boat he came with sped away with the accomplice. The victim was not a good swimmer but he made it the 200 yards to shore. Police came and the 'victim" died. What he died of is not told.

The "murderer" had returned below and was unaware of the commotion on shore. Police came aboard and arrested Eric Sommer. That was May 12 2012. He is still waiting in jail and the hearing scheduled for April was just pushed back, "missing document".

You call this a civilized justice?

Personally I plan to stay away from this 156,000 person country island where you are often attacked and robbed. Justice it seems is not on your side here.

[ElGatoGordo]

That sounds like the same info we had, but never substantiated. Can you offer new info or at least a link to this account of the happenings?

[SaltyTanned]

Originally Posted by ElGatoGordo

That sounds like the same info we had, but never substantiated. Can you offer new info or at least a link to this account of the happenings?

Eric, ce Cagnois en prison à l'autre bout du monde | Nice-Matin

[Group9]

Originally Posted by SaltyTanned

The "murdered" man was on the deck of Sommers yacht when Sommer came on deck. The "murder" victim would not explain what he was doing aboard (he was a known drug pusher) words became loud, a fight ensued and the victim fell in the bay and swam away to shore as the boat he came with sped away with the accomplice. The victim was not a good swimmer but he made it the 200 yards to shore. Police came and the 'victim" died. What he died of is not told.

The "murderer" had returned below and was unaware of the commotion on shore. Police came aboard and arrested Eric Sommer. That was May 12 2012. He is still waiting in jail and the hearing scheduled for April was just pushed back, "missing document".

You call this a civilized justice?

Personally I plan to stay away from this 156,000 person country island where you are often attacked and robbed. Justice it seems is not on your side here.

Is this what the investigation revealed, or is this the defendant's statement? I know they often are not the same, hence the reason we have trials.

And, a lot of people are shocked to find out how much harsher the criminal justice system is, than in America. We do have about the softest system in the world. Try being an illegal alien in most countries besides the US for instance, and see what happens.

[SaltyTanned]

Originally Posted by Group9

Is this what the investigation revealed, or is this the defendant's statement? I know they often are not the same, hence the reason we have trials.

And, a lot of people are shocked to find out how much harsher the criminal justice system is, than in America. We do have about the softest system in the world. Try being an illegal alien in most countries besides the US for instance, and see what happens.

We are getting away from the subject but you call soft a justice system that still has the death sentence? I do not think people in the developed world consider your country's justice "soft" on the contrary.

[Blue Stocking]

One incident--and you judge a country by it? I guess I better not send my grandchildren, who live in Connecticut, to school there Huh?

[Southern Star]

Scheduling a trial on a murder within 12 or 13 months of the date of the offence is actually much quicker than in many countries, including my own, Canada. It is also not unusual for a person who ia a non-resident of a country and who has no substantial connection with the country to be denied bail on serioius charges - they are a much greater flight risk.

Brad

[SaltyTanned]

Originally Posted by Southern Star

Scheduling a trial on a murder within 12 or 13 months of the date of the offence is actually much quicker than in many countries, including my own, Canada. It is also not unusual for a person who ia a non-resident of a country and who has no substantial connection with the country to be denied bail on serioius charges - they are a much greater flight risk.

Brad

As I understand Eric Sommer has not yet seen a judge no preliminary hearing. English style justice here.) This has been postponed 4 times. His father came from Europe every time and was allowed to stay one month and to see his son in prison once a week. Very little is known and I could find nothing in the St Lucia papers.

You judge me by assuming "one time" I have been in this region since 1995. This is not the first "incident".

Yachties have been chased out of every good anchorage in St Lucia. Rodney Bay with a strong northeaster will make even catamarans uncomfortable. To moor you must now pay a marina. Either in the lagoon or in Marigot. It is not the worse island in the region unless you are jailed for months (almost one year in this case) without any possibility of bail or hearing.

The risk of attack is high so if you cannot defend and protect yourself, yes it becomes intolerable.

[hellosailor]

Any of you guys want some opinions on the quality of justice in "civilized" nations, try asking Amanda Knox about Italy.

Justice can be miscarried anywhere, all over the world.

And here in the US a man had a heart attack last week, what was it 48 hours after his wrongful conviction was overturned and he got out of 23? years in prison?

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Any of you guys want some opinions on the quality of justice in "civilized" nations, try asking Amanda Knox about Italy.

Justice can be miscarried anywhere, all over the world.

And here in the US a man had a heart attack last week, what was it 48 hours after his wrongful conviction was overturned and he got out of 23? years in prison?

Canada has a whole raft of them.

Canada's wrongful convictions - Canada - CBC News