Al Laplace to hang tomorrow
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - Tomorrow morning (Dec. 19) one of the nine persons on death row at Her Majesty’s Prison will be taken to the gallows where he shall be hanged.
A notice posted on the gate of Her Majesty’s Prison, Basseterre, confirms that Charles Elroy Laplace, also known as ‘Al Laplace’ is scheduled to be hanged at 8:00 a.m.
The notice, dated December 16, 2008 read, “Pursuant to the warrant under the Hand and Seal of His Excellency the Governor General of the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis, dated the 15th day of December 2008, the sentence of death pronounced at the Circuit Court on the 28th day of February 2006 on Charles Elroy Laplace will be carried into execution within the walls of the Prison in the town of Basseterre in the island of St. Christopher on the Friday 19th December 2008 at 8 o’clock in the forenoon.”
The Sandy Point man, who is some 40 years of age, was in February 2006 convicted of brutally murdering his wife of 10 years, Diana Laplace.
Several villagers witnessed the incident which transpired in the yard of the residence which the couple and their children shared.
The incident reportedly began in the house and when Diana was able to break free and exit the home, her husband followed her into the yard and continued stabbing and cutting the defenceless woman. Attempts made by witnesses to stop Laplace’s brutal attack were futile and he ended by cutting his wife’s throat.
In late February 2006, after a week-long trial, a six man/six woman jury convicted Laplace of murdering his wife.
The July 20,1998 hanging of David Wilson of Ottley’s Village was the last to have taken place in the Federation. Wilson, 28, was an inmate convicted of beating a security guard to death in 1994. A panel of Appeal Judges had denied Wilson's appeal, and Governor-General Cuthbert Sebastian signed the required execution notice. The execution took place before Wilson was able to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC).
SKNVibes understands after Laplace’s execution is carried out, a bell will be tolled indicating to the public that the deed has been done.
