Jamaican Police: No Hate Crime or Homophobic Angle in Consul Murder

Police in Montego Bay, Jamaica dismiss speculation that the brutal murder of British diplomat John Terry was a homophobic attack or a hate crime. This despite the note found on Terry's nude body that described him as a "batty man"—derogatory Jamaican slang for a homosexual—and the note claimed: "This is what will happen to ALL gays." Details of the note are not reported in Jamaican media.

Head of Serious and Organised Crime, Assistant Commissioner Les Green, said the evidence pointed away from a hate crime. "I don't think it is a homophobic attack, although it's been run in the UK press. It isn't consistent with the information that we have. It is unlikely." Crime scene experts have reported that the evidence at Terry's home would suggest that he knew his attacker and had possibly let his attacker inside the confines of his home. There was no sign of forced entry and neighbours reported seeing a young black man in his company in the days leading up to his murder.

Jason McFarlane, director of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), tells the Gleaner that JFLAG is "concerned the police have hastily ruled it out as an attack against a homosexual."

Green adds: "There have been attacks mainly in the Corporate Area but they have never ended in murder. There are openly gay people in Jamaica and they live quite openly and mingle freely."

Living quite openly such as this? Or mingling freely such as that? Do tell commissioner ...

Terry's Murder No Hate Crime [Observer]
Cops Rushing to Judgment [Gleaner]

Some Background ...
Police Release Sketch in Anti-Gay Murder of Consul [R20]
Diplomat to Death in Anti-Gay Killing in JA [R20]

Comments

[Ravenback]

Another whitewash. No pun intended. Did they catch the person who allegedly killed him? If they haven't arrested the killer, they don't know jack. But I'm not surprised unfortunately.

[H. Smart]

I am not shocked. Jamaica has been known for hating on anything "alternative"...esp in the case of homosexuality. Was the note not enough? Madness!

[H. Smart]

Oh and Green, you are on some serious crack and completely out of touch. The gay Jamaicans that I know are fearful of their lives on a daily basis. Most live in the closet and wouldn't dare tell anyone about their sexual identity. So either you are clueless or a boldface liar. I am going with the latter of the two.

[T. D]

I agree with Smart. That is exactly why I left Jamaica, Homophobia in Jamaica is a living nightmare, Jamaica is my home, but i had to leave, luckily California welcomed me with open arms.