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Woolmer widow raises death doubts | |
(about 8 hours later) | |
The wife of the late Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer said her husband did not commit suicide but did not rule out the possibility that he was murdered. | |
Woolmer, 58, was found in his hotel room on Sunday, the day after his team lost to Ireland in the World Cup. | |
Police in Jamaica are unable to confirm the reason Woolmer died, but continue to treat the case as "suspicious". | |
A police spokesman confirmed they had now decided to "seek the opinion of a second pathologist". | |
The original post-mortem conducted by a government pathologist was inconclusive. | |
Gill Woolmer said she had been given "some indication" of why police thought her husband's death was suspicious but did not reveal what it was. | |
"The second pathologist's test should be available and as soon as we get that the investigation will be winding down and they will be able to send his body back to South Africa," she said. | |
We never got any threats as far as I know Woolmer's widow Gill | We never got any threats as far as I know Woolmer's widow Gill |
Speaking to Sky Sports, she added: "There is always the possibility....some of the fans are extremely volatile and passionate. | |
"There is always the possibility that it could have been (murder)." | |
Woolmer, a former England Test player, was found unconscious at his Kingston hotel last Sunday and died later that day. | |
Mark Shields, the deputy commissioner, was asked on Wednesday whether Woolmer had been murdered, to which he responded: "No, we're not saying that." | |
Asked if it was suicide, Shields said it would be "inappropriate to comment further at this time" as they were still waiting for the final pathologist's report. | Asked if it was suicide, Shields said it would be "inappropriate to comment further at this time" as they were still waiting for the final pathologist's report. |
In a statement on Thursday, police spokesman Karl Angell said they were still not in possession of the report as the government pathologist who conducted the post-mortem was awaiting the result of toxicology and histology tests. | In a statement on Thursday, police spokesman Karl Angell said they were still not in possession of the report as the government pathologist who conducted the post-mortem was awaiting the result of toxicology and histology tests. |
He added: "As a result of these factors, the police cannot give the cause of death of Mr Woolmer. | He added: "As a result of these factors, the police cannot give the cause of death of Mr Woolmer. |
"Following consultations today, involving representatives from the GOJ [government of Jamaica] and the police, a decision was taken to seek the opinion of a second pathologist. Arrangements are currently being made to engage the services of this pathologist." | "Following consultations today, involving representatives from the GOJ [government of Jamaica] and the police, a decision was taken to seek the opinion of a second pathologist. Arrangements are currently being made to engage the services of this pathologist." |
Mark Shields, the deputy police commissioner in Jamaica | Mark Shields, the deputy police commissioner in Jamaica |
Shields is a former British policeman who was head of Special Branch in the force at a time when the City of London was a priority target for the IRA. | Shields is a former British policeman who was head of Special Branch in the force at a time when the City of London was a priority target for the IRA. |
He was recruited by the Jamaican government in 2005 to counter the island's endemic gun crime, Yardie gangs and drug culture. | He was recruited by the Jamaican government in 2005 to counter the island's endemic gun crime, Yardie gangs and drug culture. |
Woolmer was known to suffer from diabetes but his widow Gill has dismissed the possibility of him dying from an overdose. | |
"Bob had type two diabetes, which you do not have to take drugs for. Reports of him drinking and overdosing on drugs are absolute rubbish," she said. | |
Asked about the stresses of his job, she said: "He never mentioned anything about being under pressure, but I had seen pictures of him on TV and know him well enough to know he was under pressure by the expression on his face." | Asked about the stresses of his job, she said: "He never mentioned anything about being under pressure, but I had seen pictures of him on TV and know him well enough to know he was under pressure by the expression on his face." |
The Pakistan team held a memorial service after Wednesday's game | The Pakistan team held a memorial service after Wednesday's game |
Woolmer's final communication with his wife was an e-mail sent following Pakistan's surprise World Cup defeat by Ireland, the match finishing only hours before his death. | Woolmer's final communication with his wife was an e-mail sent following Pakistan's surprise World Cup defeat by Ireland, the match finishing only hours before his death. |
"I received it the following morning and he just said he was very disappointed in their performance and couldn't understand how the result had happened. He was just very depressed about it," she said. | "I received it the following morning and he just said he was very disappointed in their performance and couldn't understand how the result had happened. He was just very depressed about it," she said. |
Mrs Woolmer confirmed that he had enjoyed his time in charge of the team and had a good relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board. | Mrs Woolmer confirmed that he had enjoyed his time in charge of the team and had a good relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board. |
"He had a very good relationship with the team. He liked the boys and I think the feeling was mutual. | "He had a very good relationship with the team. He liked the boys and I think the feeling was mutual. |
"They had a lot of fun together, as well as working very hard together, and the PCB administration were very good to him and looked after him very well." | "They had a lot of fun together, as well as working very hard together, and the PCB administration were very good to him and looked after him very well." |
Pakistan's final World Cup group match against Zimbabwe went ahead on Wednesday after a minute's silence as a mark of respect for Woolmer. | Pakistan's final World Cup group match against Zimbabwe went ahead on Wednesday after a minute's silence as a mark of respect for Woolmer. |
A permanent memorial to Bob would be a fitting tribute Dennis AmissFormer Warwickshire boss | A permanent memorial to Bob would be a fitting tribute Dennis AmissFormer Warwickshire boss |
They won the game by 93 runs and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq afterwards dedicated their performance to Woolmer. | They won the game by 93 runs and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq afterwards dedicated their performance to Woolmer. |
When the investigation is completed, his body will be taken back to his home in Cape Town, South Africa, accompanied by team trainer Murray Stevenson. | When the investigation is completed, his body will be taken back to his home in Cape Town, South Africa, accompanied by team trainer Murray Stevenson. |
Woolmer also coached the South African national team and English county side Warwickshire during his career. | Woolmer also coached the South African national team and English county side Warwickshire during his career. |
Dennis Amiss, a former Warwickshire chief executive, has called for a permanent memorial to Woolmer to be commissioned for the club's Edgbaston ground. | Dennis Amiss, a former Warwickshire chief executive, has called for a permanent memorial to Woolmer to be commissioned for the club's Edgbaston ground. |
"A permanent memorial to Bob Woolmer by Warwickshire would be a fitting tribute. He brought great honour to the club," Amiss commented. | "A permanent memorial to Bob Woolmer by Warwickshire would be a fitting tribute. He brought great honour to the club," Amiss commented. |