Two alleged praedial thieves, who were beaten and chopped to death in Bensonton, Claremont in St. Ann on Thursday afternoon, March 31 have been identified.
Dead are 37-year-old Dave Campbell, a taxi operator, and 22-year-old Alphonso Perry, both from Lime Hall in St. Ann. Lime Hall residents are however claiming that the men have not lived there for some time.
Both men were allegedly spotted with goat in a motor car. The goat’s mouth is said to have been taped. Police said three goats with their mouths taped with duct tape were recovered.
Information from the Claremont police are that at about 12:30 p.m., residents saw the two men in a motor car with a stolen goat.
Residents from the area intercepted the vehicle, but the men fled. However, they were caught. One of the men was severely beaten, while the second man’s throat was slashed.
Both men were taken to the hospital where they were pronounced dead.
The mob killing has caused varying comments on social media, with some individuals expressing their agreement with residents taking justice into their own hands. However, others have expressed shock and horror at the incident.
In the meantime, residents from the Lime Hall community, also in St. Ann, are also upset as once again the reputation of their community has been smeared.
A resident living in the community explained to North Coast Times that the men were not from the area, but had only moved to Lime Hall recently.
Lime Hall is notorious for several unresolved violence, gang related feuds and the disappearance of four members of one household. The latter, was one of the biggest stories coming out of the North Coast for last year.
In the meantime, the St. Ann police are carrying out their investigations into the mob killings. Police said they were keeping a close watch on Bensonton and Lime Hall in case of any threat of reprisal.
A source attached to the St. Ann Criminal Investigative Branch (CIB) on Monday, explained that no one has yet been taken into custody.
