TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Placard-bearing residents of Troy, Trelawny on Thursday morning mounted a roadblock as they demanded the release of a man who they say was arrested in relation to a fatal mobbing two days ago following the gruesome murder of 10-year-old Shani Coke.

The residents also protested over Coke’s death. The child’s partially nude body was found with her throat slashed in bushes on Tuesday.

Police said following the discovery of the child’s body, there was a mob attack on a father and son in the community.

READ: Family grieves bright 10-year-old killed in Troy, as man accused of her murder beaten to death by mob

Residents told the Jamaica Observer that the two men are Shani’s relatives. They accused the son of raping and killing the child. He was beaten, chopped and stoned to death, while his father, who was also attacked by the mob, was admitted to hospital.

Subsequently, police arrested a man in connection with the mob attack. However, residents are demanding his release as they claim he is innocent.

“We blocked the road this morning, and police came and clear most of it. The police came and lockup [a man] and he is innocent, because the guy never went to the mobbing with any machete,” a resident who requested anonymity told Observer Online.

“The whole Troy is in mourning. We can’t stop thinking about the little girl and how she died so awful,” added the resident.

— Kasey Williams

Placard-bearing residents protesting in Troy, Trelawny on Thursday morning.