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Murdered consul may be victim of homophobic attack
Chris Laker11 Sep 2009
A British consul murdered in Jamaica may have been the victim of a homophobic attack.
Police are investigating the possibility after a handwritten note on John Terry's body described him as a "batty man", local slang for a homosexual, according to reports.
New Zealand-born Mr Terry, 65, a father of two, served as the honorary consul in Montego Bay, a popular tourist destination.
Police said he died of asphyxiation after being beaten and strangled.
He was found in the bedroom of his Montego Bay home with cord and clothing round his neck, according to police spokesman Karl Angell.
The authorities have not revealed any possible motive and no arrests have been made.
Michael Garrick, deputy superintendent in charge of crime for the district, said early investigations suggested there was no forced entry.
Mr Terry separated from his wife three years ago and she and their children live in the Jamaican capital, Kingston, reports said.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband paid tribute to the diplomat last night and said he would be "greatly missed".
He said: "John Terry was a key member of our team in Jamaica and had been an honorary consul for 13 years, but with many years of other service to the British community in Jamaica before then.
"Honorary consuls like John play a valuable role in our work overseas and this was especially true of John, who helped many, many British visitors to Jamaica over the years.
"My thoughts are with his wife and children.
"He will be greatly missed too by colleagues and all those who knew him."
Mr Terry worked in the tourism industry for around 30 years and was made an MBE in 1992.
He was also the maintenance manager at a hotel in Montego Bay.
Honorary consuls are volunteers who help British nationals and others for whom the UK Government has consular responsibility abroad.
They receive no salary from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office but some are paid a small honorarium, around £2,000.
