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Home / New Zealand

Strangled New Zealander 'lived like a king'

By Rachel Tiffen
NZ Herald·
11 Sep, 2009 04:00 PM3 mins to read

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Did you know John Terry?
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Friends of the New Zealand-born diplomat found strangled and with an anti-gay note say he was like royalty in Jamaica - even before he was appointed British honorary consul.

Hotelier Paul Hurlock knew John Terry, 65, for 30 years and described him as "an honorary and an honourable Jamaican" who "lived like a king".

"He was so well respected in the community we would consider him like a Jamaican. He treated people well and they treated him well," he said.

Police found the severely beaten body of Mr Terry - a father-of-two, long-serving hotelier, diplomat and coffee bean farmer - outside his home on Wednesday. A trail of bloodstains was inside.

A cord and item of clothing were tied around his neck and a post mortem examination showed he died of "asphyxia due to ligature strangulation associated with other injuries to neck and head".

Friend Anne Bernard-Bennett, who now lives in Wanganui, described him as the "ultimate gentleman".

"We had a running gag where he called me 'Miss Anne' and I called him 'Sir John', so it was especially funny when he actually became the British honorary consul."

It is understood Mr Terry lived alone in his rural property near the Jamaican resort of Montego Bay. He was honorary consul on the Caribbean island for 13 years and represented the High Commission at official functions.

Police are investigating the possibility of a homophobic attack because of a handwritten note on his body that described him as a "batty man" - local slang for a homosexual. It said: "This is what will happen to ALL gays" and was signed "Gay-Man".

Neither of the friends knew Mr Terry as gay, but neighbours told British media he was often seen with men.

Mrs Bernard-Bennett said Mr Terry stayed close to estranged wife Liz and children Melissa, 18, and Jordan, 21, after the couple separated several years ago.

Mr Terry worked as a magistrate on the island and was made a Member of the British Empire by the Queen in 1993. Police believe Mr Terry knew his killer.

"There were no signs of forced entry. Whoever did this knew John Terry and he would have admitted them to the house," Les Green, Jamaica's Assistant Commissioner for Police, told the Times.

Reports suggested his wallet and mobile phone were stolen in a bid to make it look like a robbery gone wrong.

But Mrs Bernard-Bennett doubted he owned anything valuable - she remembered his modest car - and did not know why anyone would hurt him.

"I do not know a soul who would have anything personal for [against] him. John was just John, he wouldn't hurt a fly, I just enjoyed his company."

Mr Terry worked in the island's tourism trade for more than 30 years and was working as maintenance manager at Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay, at the time of his death.

Britain's Foreign Secretary, David Milliband, led tributes to Mr Terry, who was described as a loving father and a key member of the diplomatic team in the Caribbean.

"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," Mr Milliband said.

In July, New Zealand tourist Tiki Hunia, 27, was killed in Jamaica during an attempted robbery at a guest house where he and wife Nickie-Jean were staying.

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