A man was beaten by an angry mob of locals in Leeds, St Elizabeth, after he allegedly sexually assaulted a child. The man has been hospitalised due to injuries he sustained when a resident took the law into their own hands.
Reports say the man is accused of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl in the Leeds community, which is situated near Santa Cruz. The residents in the area learnt about the alleged assault and attacked the man on Saturday.
The 59-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, was taken to the hospital after the Santa Cruz police were called to the scene, according to the reports. He is currently under police supervision while he continues to be treated at the hospital. Nationwide News reported that St Elizabeth police are probing the incident and the allegations.
The incident comes on the heels of the death of Kelsey Ferrigon, a 9-year-old girl who was killed in Spanish Town, St Catherine, on Friday. Kelsey’s partially naked body was found inside a barrel on Friday, which sparked nationwide outrage. She was reportedly raped, killed, and then stuffed inside. Her suspected killer, Giovanni Ellis, was fatally shot on Monday by police during an alleged confrontation.
With Kelsey’s murder fresh on everyone’s mind, Jamaicans responded to the news on Tuesday with angry comments online. Many users are calling for “jungle justice”, expressing frustration with the justice system and a desire for swift, community-driven punishment. One person said, “Let this be a trend.” Another wrote, “Spanish Town, take notes.”
Additionally, some comments reflected a shared grief and a call for better protection of Jamaica’s children. Instagram users also left comments like “Leave the children alone!” and another read, “Protect the people that can’t protect themselves,” which underscores the pain and urgency felt by the public. While some celebrate the community’s reaction, others express frustration that justice was not served more harshly.