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Police await Woolmer death report Woolmer widow raises death doubts
(about 7 hours later)
Police in Jamaica are still unable to confirm the reason why Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died, but continue to treat the case as "suspicious". The wife of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has denied that her husband committed suicide but refused to rule out the possibility he was murdered.
A post-mortem conducted by a government pathologist was inconclusive and further tests are being carried out. Woolmer, 58, was found in his hotel room on Sunday, the day after his team lost to Ireland in the World Cup.
Despite that, a police spokesman confirmed they had now decided to "seek the opinion of a second pathologist". Police in Jamaica are still unable to confirm how Woolmer died, and continue to treat the case as "suspicious".
The former England Test player, 58, was found unconscious at his Kingston hotel last Sunday and died later that day. A police spokesman confirmed they had now decided to seek the opinion of a second pathologist.
Mark Shields, the deputy commissioner, was asked on Wednesday whether Woolmer had been murdered, to which he responded: "No, we're not saying that." Speaking at her home in South Africa, Gill Woolmer said she expected her husband's body would be flown home after the second pathologist concluded his investigation.
Pakistan team trainer Murray Stephenson is due to accompany Woolmer's body to South Africa when the investigation is concluded.
Passionate fans
Mrs 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.
Woolmer, a former England Test player, was found unconscious at his Kingston hotel last Sunday and died later that day.
We never got any threats as far as I know Woolmer's widow GillWe never got any threats as far as I know Woolmer's widow Gill
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. "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," Gill Woolmer said.
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. Speaking to Sky News, she added: "There is always the possibility that it could have been [murder]."
He added: "As a result of these factors, the police cannot give the cause of death of Mr Woolmer. Help 'available'
"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, Jamaica's deputy police commissioner, has rebuffed direct questions about whether Woolmer was murdered.
Mark Shields, the deputy police commissioner in Jamaica Mark Shields is a former head of the City of London Special BranchMr Shields is a former British policeman who was head of Special Branch in the City of London at a time when the area was a 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, and played down reports that he was the victim of a plot linked to match-fixing. The UK's Metropolitan Police is "ready to assist" its Jamaican counterpart with the investigation, Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson has told the BBC, although there has been no explicit request for help.
"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 told an Indian TV station. In a statement on Thursday, Jamaican police spokesman Karl Angell said the government pathologist who conducted the first post-mortem examination was awaiting the result of toxicology and histology tests.
"I am aware that his death is being viewed as a suspicious death. He had nothing to do with the match-fixing controversy and any such person being involved is highly unlikely. We never got any threats as far as I know." Health questions
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." Bob Woolmer was known to suffer from diabetes, but his widow dismissed the suggestion that he died from a drugs overdose.
"Bob had Type 2 diabetes, which you do not have to take drugs for. Reports of him drinking and overdosing on drugs are absolute rubbish," she said.
The Pakistan team held a memorial service after Wednesday's gameThe Pakistan team held a memorial service after Wednesday's game
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."
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.
"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 won their final World Cup group match against Zimbabwe by 93 runs on Wednesday, following a minute's silence as a mark of respect for the coach.
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.
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.
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.