British man killed in Jamaica was a contract killing, police say

The murder of British man Sean Patterson – a personal trainer from Shepherd’s Bush, west London, was a “contract killing” by “unknown assailants,” according to police. 

Patterson was found shot to death – with bullet wounds to his upper body and head in St James, officers said. 

He was found at midday on Monday near the pool of his holiday accommodation in Bogue Hill, St James. 

Jamaica Constabulary’s deputy commissioner called it “a contract killing that emanated from Britain”.

In a video statement, Fitz Bailey went on to say, Patterson, 33 arrived in Jamaica on 29 December with another man who was also from London. The pair spent several days at an apartment before checking into the villa in Bogue Hill on New Year’s Day. 

‘Lone man dressed in hooded shirt’ 

Later that same day, the commissioner said, the two British men met up with another man – from Kingston – who was present when Patterson was shot and killed. 

All three men had stayed at the guest house in separate rooms and the following day, at around 12, Patterson and the Jamaican man had gone to the villa’s pool deck. 

“[The Kingston man] reported that his back was turned to [Mr] Patterson when he heard several loud explosions [which] sounded like gunshots,” Mr Bailey said.

“He reported that he looked around and saw a lone man dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt with a handgun shooting [Mr] Patterson.”

The witness reportedly fled and hid in bushes.

The commissioner said local authorities are working with police in the UK and making “significant progress” in the case. 

The Foreign Office said it was “supporting the family of a British man who died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities.”