Prime Minister Denzil Douglas

ST KITTS: MAN HANGED FOR KILLING WIFE

December 19, 2008: at about 8 am, Charles Elroy Laplace became the first convict in the St Kitts to hang in 10 years. The 40-year-old who is also known as Al Laplace was charged with the 2004 stabbing death of his wife, Diana, in Fig Tree village. Prime Minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas made the announcement during his official address to the House of Assembly.
While communicating his government’s “no comfort” position in complying with the death sentence of the court, he saw it as a means of deterrent for human life being taken by human hands in the eyes of the law. According to reports, in 2004 a neighbour said Laplace was stabbing his wife inside the house, but that she had managed to get away and ran outside, but fell to the ground. Her husband was still stabbing her with the knife.
“Everybody around came out and two fellows were throwing stones and bottles at him to stop him. One of them actually had a stick and got close enough to hit him but he wouldn’t stop. After, he went upstairs and locked himself in a house,” the neighbour said. (Sources: Sunstkitts.com, 21/12/2008)