Man killed in vigilante justice in Jamaica following murder of eight-year-old

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Police are probing the murder of a 26-year-old man who was apparently killed in vigilante justice in Jamaica. He was killed by a mob seeking vengeance for the death of an eight-year-old school child, whose body was found in bushes in Blue Hole, Sterling Castle Heights, St Andrew, a parish, situated in the island’s southeast.

Parliamentary representative for the St Andrew West Rural constituency, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, condemned the killing, saying “I’m in disbelief because you never want jungle justice because you don’t know if you’re getting the right person and at this time we don’t know and we can’t take the law into our own hands”.

8-year old female murdered

The mob had accused Miguel Williams of being involved in the murder of Shantae Skyers, who had been reported missing on her way from school last Tuesday.

The authorities said her body was found amongst rubble by a search party led by officers from the St Andrew North Police Division.

Beaten and burned

Media reports said that Williams was beaten and his body burnt on Wednesday as the angry residents sought justice for the murder of the Red Hills Primary School student. The mob also set fire to his home.

Relatives said Williams suffers from a mental condition, and Cuthbert-Flynn said she would be contacting the National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang about maintaining police presence in the community as residents have threatened further action.