Al Laplace hanged!
Murder victim’s brother satisfied

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AT about 8:00 this morning (Dec. 19), the bell within the walls of Her Majesty’s Prison in St. Kitts tolled, signalling the completion of the execution of ‘Al Laplace’.

Laplace, who is legally known as Charles Elroy Laplace, was taken to the gallows this morning and executed on the court’s order as punishment for committing the murder of his wife of 10 years, Diana Laplace.

Just a couple of days prior to the incident, there seemed not to be much talk of what was to take place, but rumours of his hanging filled the air late yesterday afternoon and into the evening.

SKNVibes made investigations and found that the rumour held much truth and the act was to have been carried out within the confines of the walls of Her Majesty’s Prison in Basseterre.

Sometime before 8:00 this morning, SKNVibes stood on the outside of the prison among a small crowd that had gathered there having heard of what was to have transpired. Word that the deed was done was conveyed through the tolling of a bell.

Shortly thereafter, persons including Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Liburd and Justice of the Peace Stanley Franks were seen exiting the prison.

SKNVibes spoke with one lady who explained that she was driving her vehicle across Lozack Road when the deed was being done. She said that she heard a loud sound followed by a shiver which ran through her body.

Another female said she too was in the area and heard the sound. “I was not scared when I heard it. I was more concerned about what was happening!” ~~Adz:Right~~

This media house has made several attempts to speak to the Superintendent of Prisons to get more information about the incident, but was repeatedly told that he was in a meeting.

Diana’s brother, Leroy ‘Savan’ Armatrading, told SKNVibes that he is somewhat comforted by the hanging of his sister’s murderer, but sadly noted he would have preferred if she were alive.

“I feel satisfied in my heart that the government woke up this country here this morning. He took my sister off the job and said the child was sick and nothing like that happened, nothing like that happened. My sister was good to us. We lived good together. We got along very good. My sister was buried in a coffin and he will be buried in a coffin as well. I feel good about that even though she should have been here with me.”

A six man/six woman jury convicted Laplace of stabbing his wife to death with a knife. The conviction took place in 2006 and the offence was committed in 2004.

The last man to be hanged in the Federation was David Wilson of Ottley’s Village, who was convicted for his part in the beating to death of a security guard. He was hanged in 1998.