Welshman murdered in Philippines

Leonard Jarman's family say they are devastated by his death

The death of a 66-year-old man who moved from the south Wales valleys to the Philippines 18 months ago is being treated as murder.

Police in the Philippines have launched an inquiry into the death of Leonard Jarman, formerly of Llantwit Fardre, near Pontypridd.

He was found on 31 August at his home in Las Pinas City, in the capital's Metro Manila region.

Mr Jarman, had set up home there with his Filipina second wife, Edna.

His oldest daughter, Melanie Hill, from Fleur-de-lys, Blackwood, Caerphilly county, told the Wales on Sunday newspaper: "We are devastated by the news.

"At the moment we are dealing with the shock of the death and it hasn't really sunk in that he's been murdered."

He lived in Las Pinas City, near the capital, Manila with wife Edna

She said the family hoped that Filipino police would "do their utmost to bring the perpetrators to justice".

Wales on Sunday also reported that Mr Jarman had been a chemical engineer with BP in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, before marrying a second time.

The newspaper said he had gone to the Philippines with the aim of opening a hairdressing salon.

A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that the body of a British national was found on 31 August at his home in Las Pinas City in the Philippines.

"Next-of-kin have been informed. Filipino police are treating his death as suspicious."