Pakistan team may not return for inquest
April 19, 2007
There is uncertainty as to whether members of the Pakistan cricket team will return to Jamaica to give evidence at the coroner's inquest into the death of their coach Bob Woolmer.
The coroner's inquest is scheduled to get under way at 10:00 a.m. next week Monday at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.
The police have so far collected 20 statements in connection with the inquest and some are from members of the team.
Summonses have also been served on a large number of jurors to attend for jury selection.
A member of the Coroner's Court staff told The Gleaner that about eleven jurors will be selected to sit on the panel.
The jury will hear evidence and determine whether anyone is criminally responsible for Woolmer's death.
Court reporters from the Supreme Court have also been assigned to take verbatim notes of the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Carol Palmer, Permanent Secretary in the Justice Ministry, yesterday outlined the procedures for the holding of the inquest.
Addressing a press conference, she explained that the Jamaica Conference Centre was selected to allow for the accommodation of members of the public and the media who are expected to attend.
No tape recorders
She warned that neither video cameras nor tape recorders will be allowed during the sittings of the inquest.
Mrs. Palmer has also advised that persons attending the hearings are expected to be properly attired and will be subjected to searchesby security personnel.
The coroner's inquest was ordered after a post-mortem on the body of the late Pakistan cricket coach revealed that he was strangled.
There have also been reports that he may have been poisoned.
In the meantime, a second team of investigators left the island yesterday for Grenada to interview persons who were at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel when Mr. Woolmer was killed on March 18.
On Monday, a 15-member team, led by Deputy Superintendent Colin Pinnock, left for Barbados to interview other persons there.
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
