Murdered pastor David James Ginter, may have known killer, say police

Ana Ghoib Syeikh Malaya 9:25 PTG
AMPANG MURDER : AMERICAN PRIEST FOUND DEAD WITH HANDS AND FEET BOUND INSIDE HIS HOME

[pullquote_left]Updated today police have arrested 7 mens age around 20's and believe to be foreigner for investigations[/pullquote_left]PETALING JAYA: It has been a week but the whodunit question is still looming large in the murder of an American pastor, whom police believe might have known his killer.

David James Ginter, 61, was found bound and murdered at his double-storey house in Taman Sri Ukay in Hulu Klang on May 4.

His neighbour, who had a spare key, discovered the body when he was asked by Ginter's wife to check on him.

Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Amiruddin Jamaluddin said that post-mortem results showed that Ginter had died of asphyxiation due to gagging and neck compression.

Police, he said, had been combing the area for new leads.

“There were no signs of struggle. His Toyota Avanza with the registration plate WRS 4390 is also missing.

“We are not ruling out robbery as the motive and that the victim might have known the killer,” he said yesterday.

“We have spoken to the neighbour, who discovered the body, but no arrests have been made so far,” he said, adding that police had recorded statements from 20 people.

Ginter's wife Sheryl had arrived in Malay-sia from Australia following the tragedy, he said.

“Initial investigations revealed that his wife last contacted him at 10pm on Friday. She tried calling him the next day but failed and asked the neighbour to check on him,” he said.

ACP Amiruddin advised the public not to speculate on the case and leave the matter to the police.

It is learnt that Ginter, who had been living in Malaysia for about four years, was a senior pastor at the Bridge International Church in Jalan Ampang.

He had been with the church for about three years where he served as a counsellor and was seen as an inspirational figure to many.

A memorial had been created online in memory of the pastor at http://www.forevermissed.com/david-james-ginter/#about.

 

Source