MOCACHE, LOS RÍOS PROVINCE, ECUADOR Two men were accused of a series of robberies and thefts in the Mocache area. Local residents took justice into their own hands. An enraged crowd quickly gathered around them, executed both men, and set them on fire. By the time police arrived at the scene, they found only two charred bodies.
Although street justice may sometimes seem like a quick and effective way to deliver justice, it is actually a criminal offense. Those who take part in a lynching can often receive harsher punishment than the perpetrators themselves. Always keep in mind that even the worst criminal has the right, at the very least, to a fair trial and punishment in accordance with the law. Never participate in such lynchings, and always call the police instead.
