Mr Asia boss 'NZ's worst serial killer' - insider

Mr Asia drug syndicate boss Terry Clark killed at least 12 people, including three in New Zealanders before moving to Australia, a syndicate insider says.

After 30 years, the syndicate's banker 'Diamond' Jim Shepherd, who is writing a book on his experiences, has spoken out about the man he calls "New Zealand's worst serial killer", the Dominion Post reported.

Mr Shepherd, who worked with Clark between 1977 and 1979, said he was a dangerous psychopath who killed women, but adored his children.

It is known he murdered six Kiwi members of the syndicate, but he told Shepherd in 1978, he had killed two men in New Zealand - shooting one of them, a rival drug dealer, in the back of the head.

Shepherd said he was sure Clark also killed his second wife Norma Fleet with a fatal heroin overdose in 1975 or 1976.

"She more than likely would have been giving him problems and he was starting to get involved with [next wife] Maria Muhary at that time.

"He wouldn't have blinked an eye taking [Norma] out of his life. I knew her quite well, she was a lovely lady."

Retired Detective Senior Sergeant Brears Basham, who worked on the Mr Asia investigation, said police always thought Clark was involved in Ms Fleet's overdose. However, she was a heavy heroin user and there was no hard evidence.

"At the time that was looked at pretty seriously... but he wasn't saying anything."

Mr Shepherd's book is called Mr Asia: Last Man Standing.

- NZPA