Jairo Medina: Police in bid to unravel mystery of carer's final hours before he was found dead in Hyde Park

Murder victim: The body of Jairo Medina, 62 a health care professional from Chelsea, was found in Hyde Park
Metropolitan Police
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A man found dead in Hyde Park was an “inspirational” carer with a heart of gold, his family said today.

Jairo Medina’s body was found at 5.50am on Friday under a tree near Speakers’ Corner, less than a mile from his two-bed flat in Cadogan Street, near Sloane Square.

Murder detectives believe the 62-year-old had been attacked and are appealing for information as they try to unravel the mystery of his final hours.

His heartbroken flatmate told the Standard: “At the moment we don’t know anything at all about how he met his death.

“All we know is that his body was found in Hyde Park and he had injuries. Basically someone had beaten him up and he was left with these severe injuries.

Police and forensic officers in Hyde Park after Mr Medina's body was found 
Alex Lentati

“It is too early to say what happened - it was only two days ago. But we had been living together for 11 years.

“I have been with the detectives ever since trying to figure out what happened.”

The Met said it is keeping an open mind about the circumstances of Mr Medina’s death.

Mr Medina last year won an industry award for the care he has given to Joe Behrens, 95, since his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s four years ago.

He was commended at the 2015 Margaret Butterworth Awards for the “exemplary care, creativity, hard work and companionship” shown to Mr Behrens, a Jew who fled Nazi Germany for Zambia in 1939 before moving to the UK with his wife and three children in the 1970s.

In a testimonial, Mr Behren’s daughter-in-law Helen said: “Jairo is incredible at researching relevant activities. This input is really important, as it prompts Joe’s long term memory enabling him to retain his identity.

“Jairo always finds music, documentaries and movies that Joe enjoys. Just last week they were listening to Bavarian music Joe knew and loved from his past.

“It would just not be possible for Joe to remain at home, where he is most content, without the live-in care that Jairo provides.”

Police presence: Cordons were set up in Hyde Park 
Alex Lentati

Police set up a cordon spanning an area the size of two football pitches in Hyde Park on Friday morning after a passer-by found the body near a mosaic to commemorate The Reformers’ Tree.

At least 30 officers were at the scene at one point as part of the investigation.

A neighbour of Mr Medina told the Standard: “When I found out a body had discovered not far from here in Hyde Park I thought it was a street drinker or something, I had no idea it was Jairo upstairs.

The body was found near Speakers' Corner
Alex Lentati

“He told me he got the flat as a key worker. He was a nice guy with a heart of gold; you have to be in that job.

“I knew him quite well, he was always cooking, there were always lovely exotic smells coming from his window and he liked to have people round.”

A Met spokesman said: “We are keeping an open mind about the motive of this crime.”

Detectives from the homicide and major crime command have appealed for anyone with information about Mr Medina’s whereabouts in the hours before his body was found.

No arrests have been made.

Witnesses are asked to call police via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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