Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Residents of KitsonTown in St Catherine yesterday hacked and burnt a man to death after he was accused of being part of a group of men that raped and killed a 15-year-old student last Sunday.

On Sunday last week, residents found the mutilated body of Shannelle Channer near the Dovecot Memorial Gardens.

The 15-year-old grade-10 student of the Spanish Town High School was said to have been raped and her throat slashed.

Since that incident, the residents have been eager for the killers to be brought to justice, but yesterday they went a step further by dispensing their own.

Police reports are that about 11:30 a.m. yesterday, the man was spotted along Taylor Road in Kitson Town. He was accosted by a group of irate residents who beat, chopped and later set him on fire to complete the gruesome punishment.

Strangely, none of the residents with whom THE STAR spoke were sympathetic to the accused.

"Bway, mi can believe the likkle school girl not even live her life yet and the criminal dem decide fi kill har in such a gruesome manner. We need fi ketch all a dem and deal wid dem, because dem caan come in a people community come mash it up like dis," said a female bystander, who was fuming when THE STAR visited her community.

Another resident added, "This goes to show that persons nuh respect life no more. It nuh matter if a woman, elderly or even pickney. Di likkle girl never deserve dis. An' if we ketch di other one, a so we a go deal wid him."

Investigators from the St Catherine North Police division said they have taken a second suspect in custody in connection with Channer's death, while a third is being sought. They are also investigating yesterday morning's incident.