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Woolmer 'died of natural causes' | Woolmer 'died of natural causes' |
(30 minutes later) | |
Jamaican police have confirmed that Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes and was not murdered, as they stated earlier. | Jamaican police have confirmed that Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes and was not murdered, as they stated earlier. |
Mr Woolmer, 58, died after being found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on 18 March, after his team lost to Ireland in the cricket World Cup. | |
An initial pathologist's report concluded that he had been strangled. | An initial pathologist's report concluded that he had been strangled. |
Every member of the Pakistan team was fingerprinted before returning home, sparking anger among many in Pakistan. | |
'No poison' | |
Jamaican Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas told a news conference that three expert opinions had concluded that the original pathologist report of death by manual asphyxiation was wrong. | |
My sons and I are relieved to be officially informed that Bob died of natural causes and that no foul play is suspected in his death Gill Woolmer | |
He also said that toxicology tests had now been received and that they showed there was no substance to indicate poisoning. | He also said that toxicology tests had now been received and that they showed there was no substance to indicate poisoning. |
"The police have now closed the investigation into the death of Bob Woolmer," Mr Thomas said. | |
He launched a strong defence of the police investigation, saying it had been commended by both Scotland Yard and Pakistani police who had helped with the case. | |
Mr Woolmer's widow, Gill, said: "My sons and I are relieved to be officially informed that Bob died of natural causes and that no foul play is suspected in his death." | Mr Woolmer's widow, Gill, said: "My sons and I are relieved to be officially informed that Bob died of natural causes and that no foul play is suspected in his death." |
'Terrible days' | |
Mr Woolmer's death sparked speculation he had been murdered by an angry fan or by an illegal betting syndicate. There was also speculation members of the Pakistan team may have been involved. | Mr Woolmer's death sparked speculation he had been murdered by an angry fan or by an illegal betting syndicate. There was also speculation members of the Pakistan team may have been involved. |
They should have first ruled out natural causes before this whole drama about the murder Imran Khan class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6583&edition=1&ttl=20070612154012">Bob Woolmer's death: Your reaction | |
Mr Thomas said the Jamaica Constabulary Force had found no evidence "of any impropriety by players, match officials nor management". | |
He said the force had carried out its investigation thoroughly and with respect to the Pakistan cricket team. | |
But Pakistan's former captain Imran Khan said he was shocked there was no apology to the national side. | But Pakistan's former captain Imran Khan said he was shocked there was no apology to the national side. |
He said Pakistan's cricket board should sue those responsible for the "humiliation that the Pakistan team went through". | He said Pakistan's cricket board should sue those responsible for the "humiliation that the Pakistan team went through". |
"Bob Woolmer had diabetes, he had blood pressure, an enlarged heart, he had respiratory problems. On top of it, the depression of losing and then he drank a bottle of champagne. They should have first ruled out natural causes before this whole drama about the murder," Imran Khan said. | |
But Inzamam-ul-Haq, captain during the World Cup, said that although the days after Mr Woolmer's death were "the most terrible of our lives", legal action now would serve no purpose. | |
The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Kingston says this is an embarrassing U-turn for the Jamaican police. | The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Kingston says this is an embarrassing U-turn for the Jamaican police. |
He says the news conference was an attempt to shift the blame for the errors in the case onto the report of the original pathologist, Dr Ere Sheshiah. |