MANDEVILLE, Manchester – On Thursday, the day that 62-year-old Chieftin Campbell had planned to marry his fiancé at a resort in Trelawny, councillors in Manchester were mourning his “gruesome” and “barbaric” death after he was mobbed in this south-central town a week ago.

Campbell, who was described as a well-respected citizen and dedicated community member of Victoria Town in southern Manchester, died after a beaten by a mob on lower Manchester Road in what police theorise was a case of mistaken identity.

Two people have so far been identified on the national closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance system, JamaicaEye, as being involved in his killing.

During a meeting of the Manchester Municipal Corporation on Thursday, Councillor Claudia Morant-Baker (Porus Division, Jamaica Labour Party) questioned the events that happened mid-afternoon on May 6 as she reflected on Campbell’s service to his community.

“His demise has impacted a community and his family in a negative way. Today (Thursday) should have been his wedding…. [We] all want to know why didn’t you take [him] to the police station? Why didn’t someone say stop? Why didn’t someone just listen to give him the opportunity to defend or explain himself?” Morant-Baker questioned.

“You stole from us a decent man. A man who believes in volunteerism. A humble soul. A role model. An honest man,” she added while sending a message to the people who beat Campbell.

“Based upon someone who cried wolf, you were quick to fire a blow, you didn’t stop to use other methods…You could have prevented an innocent death. I hope you are doing a self-search. I hope you decide to visit the police station and make a report, because that is what will make a difference,” added Morant-Baker

Head of the Manchester police Superintendent Lloyd Darby said investigators are enhancing footage from JamaicaEye to identify more people who were involved in the incident.

“It is really an embarrassment to any semblance of public order and civility,” said Darby as he reiterated his appeal for people who witnessed the incident and videotaped it to come forward and give a statement.

“Whatever was captured on the phone has no use unless we have somebody who comes in and [states] that they were the recorders of that footage,” he said.

Darby said he was a part of a grief counselling session at the Victoria Town Primary School on Wednesday, where Campbell was a board member.

“When you heard the accounts from people he grew up with, it was really a touching situation,” said Darby.

Councillor Mario Mitchell (Bellefield Division, People’s National Party) said mob attacks are dangerous trends that ought not to be condoned.

“It is of great concern to us and is something that should be condemned. Manchester has always been known as a parish of being civil, it is indeed an embarrassing situation,” said Mitchell.

“I hope that the matter can come to a closure as soon as possible as the relevant investigations are done and let the chips fall where they may, because whether the gentleman was a criminal or not he cannot be accosted and the public take the matter of justice or the law into their own hands… It is a dangerous trend,” added Mitchell.

He said for the sake of the family and the community the probe should be dealt with swiftly and closure given to Campbell’s family and community.

Mandeville Mayor Donovan Mitchell, who was absent from Thursday’s meeting, had told the Observer on Monday that Campbell’s death was heart-rending.

“It is quite an unfortunate situation. However, this is not a situation that we can condone as a people. We have to allow the police to do their job… I think we ought to behave better as a nation, as a people,” he said.