Jamaican Police Deny Antigay Murder Motive

Police in Jamaica deny that the murder of British honorary counsel John Terry last week was motivated by homophobia, in a refutation of initial press reports.

Terry, 65, was found dead Thursday in his home near Montego Bay, St. James, naked, strangled, and beaten, with a note next to his body that read, "This is what will happen to all gays," according to The Sun, a British tabloid newspaper. The note also reportedly called Terry a "batty-man," Jamaican slang for a gay person.

However, according to the Jamaica-Star, an officer attributed with that account in the tabloid on Friday denies that he described the scene that way.

"He also said that the note found at the scene of the crime had nothing to do with homosexuality," reported theJamaica-Star. "As it relates to the content of that document the officer said that would not be disclosed, as it is a matter of investigation."

Police have released an electronic sketch of a person of interest in the murder (pictured right).