MANDEVILLE, Manchester — A grief-stricken Florence Dunkley, sister of mob victim Chieftin Campbell, believes lax investigation led to a no-case submission being upheld on Wednesday and the subsequent freeing of a Manchester taxi operator who had been charged with murder.

“I can’t really find the words to explain how I feel. If I say I’m disappointed it might not be enough; I just don’t know how to explain it. Nothing will bring him [Chieftin] back,” she told the Jamaica Observer by telephone on Wednesday.

“… Whoever we were depending on to do their part did not present any evidence, so that gave the judge all the right to rule a discharge. There is no justice that is being served; it is just lackadaisical on the part of persons involved, from the police and whoever was the other representatives [in the case],” she added.

The taxi operator, Orlando Powell, was freed in the Manchester Parish Court after presiding judge Monique Harrison upheld the no-case submission made by his attorney Yolanda Kiffin.

Powell, who had been on bail, was charged with murder in relation to the May 6 mob killing of the 61-year-old Campbell in Mandeville.

His attorney told the Observer that there was a no prima facie case.

“The submissions were accepted and he was discharged… There was no evidence linking the defendant to the death of [Campbell],” Kiffin said.

“My position was that there was never a case. There is no prima facie case and that was borne out from the statement that was presented in the committal bundle and the court having heard the submissions, that was the view as well, that there was in fact no prima facie case,” she added.

She said her client “just wants to get on with his life”.

The matter was transferred to the Coroner’s Court for an inquest to be held on February 2, 2023.

Campbell, who was described as a well-respected citizen and dedicated community member of Victoria Town in southern Manchester, died after a crowd of people beat him on lower Manchester Road, days before his wedding, after he was allegedly mistakenly identified as a thief.

His death had sparked protests in his community where he was also described as a dedicated member of the Victoria Town Primary School’s board.