British diplomat has been murdered at his home in Jamaica in a suspected homophobic attack.
John Terry, 65, was found lying on his bed with a cord round his neck and severe head injuries.
Jamaican police are investigating whether the honorary consul for the British High Commission was in a homosexual relationship.
Officers said there was no sign of a break-in at the four-bedroom house in rural Mount Carey, near Montego Bay, and do not think robbery was a motive.
Mr Terry was honorary consul on the Caribbean island for 13 years, representing the High Commission at official functions. He had lived in Jamaica for 40 years.
He was last seen on Tuesday night after leaving the luxury Half Moon Bay Hotel in Montego Bay, where he was a maintenance supervisor.
He was found on Wednesday morning by his gardener, with a handwritten note on his body describing him as a ‘batty man’, local slang for a homosexual.
A detective working on the case said: ‘There were also other things mentioned that can’t be divulged yet.
‘We have reports that he has been seen with another man. It is likely he could have known his killer.’
Deputy superintendent Michael Garrick said: ‘His head and upper body were repeatedly hit with a heavy object, believed to be the base of a bed lamp.’
Foreign Secretary David Miliband last night said he was ‘deeply saddened’, adding: ‘Honorary consuls play a valuable role overseas and this was especially true of John.’
New Zealander Mr Terry was given an MBE for services to tourism in 1992.
He was separated from his wife, who lives with their three children in the Jamaican capital, Kingston.
