Jamaica police say the death is ‘suspicious’

PORT-OF-SPAIN/TRINIDAD: As Pakistan took the field to play their last World Cup match against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, the controversy surrounding their coach Bob Woolmer’s death acquired additional knots of speculation and mystery.

At a late-night news conference at the team’s hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, on Tuesday, Mark Shields, deputy police commissioner, said Woolmer’s death was being treated as ‘suspicious’. It was also revealed that traces of poison had been found in his room.

Shields said in a statement: “Having met 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.”

Shields declined to say whether police were pursuing a murder investigation. “No, we are not saying that,” he said. “I will be able to comment on the issue only after getting a full official report from pathologists and toxicologists.”

The press meet was called after reports emerged in Pakistan media suggesting that Woolmer had been the victim of a murder plot. Pakistan’s Geo TV reported on Tuesday that Woolmer was murdered by poisoning, a hypothesis that has left the PCB flummoxed.

“The pathologist’s findings were inconclusive and he is awaiting results from toxicology and histology tests,” Pervez Mir, the team’s media manager told a news conference.

“Suspicious can mean anything. So, at this time, it won’t be right to say whether it was murder or anything else.”

Police said fingerprints of various people have been discovered in Woolmer’s room, and they have already questioned the team’s physiotherapist and trainer.

Shields said the body will not be released until the pathologist had completed his examination.

“If there are no results, we will not be able to release the body unless the coroner gives his authority,” Shields said.

“In a case like this, I would think the pathologist would want to be absolutely sure and so I see nothing unusual in that.” Shields said the scientists’ findings would be available soon.

“I just know they are working as quickly as possible to provide the information that we need,” he said.

Talat Ali, manager of the Pakistan team, denied reports that the team has been asked not to leave the country.

“As planned, we are flying back on Saturday.”

Woolmer’s family will not visit Jamaica to sign autopsy documents.