Jamaican police: Woolmer death suspicious
Wednesday, 21 Mar 2007 17:26
Bob Woolmer died last Sunday at the age of 58
The death of former England batsman and Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer is being treated as suspicious, police in Jamaica have said.
Woolmer, 58, died at Kingston University hospital on Sunday after being found unconscious in his hotel room earlier in the day.
While police wait for the full results of the continuing post-mortem, they say they are satisfied to proceed with a full investigation into his death.
"Having met with the pathologist, other medical personnel and investigators there is now sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Woolmer, which we are now treating as suspicious," said Jamaican deputy police commissioner Mark Shields.
But he responded to journalists' questions by denying the implication that Woolmer was murdered, although he stressed that all lines were open to investigation.
Woolmer's death came a day after his Pakistan team suffered a shock loss and World Cup exit at the hands of minnows Ireland.
At the following press conference the former South Africa coach admitted he was feeling the strain of international cricket.
Speaking from the Caribbean, which has become a hotbed of rumours over the Pakistan coach's death, the team spokesman Pervez Mir said that "suspicious could be anything at this moment".
"It could be something serious; it could be something not serious. We have a man who is down and we don't know the reason why," he explained.
On Woolmer's ongoing post-mortem, Mr Shields added: "I know that the scientists are treating it with the utmost urgency in order that we can hopefully repatriate the body to his family as soon as possible.
"I just know they are working as quickly as possible to provide the information that we need. I hope it's today but it could be tomorrow."
Once the investigation is completed, Woolmer's body will be returned to his home in Cape Town, South Africa.