...death two months later: Two steps forward, several backwards
May 20, 2007
FOR SOME it's called blunders; for others it's plain inconsistencies; but whatever the case may be, the Jamaican police have been unable to escape the ghost of the Bob Woolmer fiasco which has haunted it since the Pakistan cricket coach's untimely death here on March 18.
Now, two months on, it seems to be the case of two steps forward and several backwards. And the way the investigations are going, many have made up their minds which 'truth' to accept - that of the Jamaican police or that of the foreign 'experts'.
It seems, though, that only time will tell whether the truth will emerge as to how Mr. Woolmer died or whether this debacle of an investigation will suffocate or die a natural death.
Beaten by Ireland
Woolmer, 58, was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of the West Indies at 12:14 p.m. on March 18, the day after Pakistan crashed out of the ICC Cricket World Cup after being beaten by minnows Ireland, at Sabina Park.
"When I reached the room, he was lying on the floor, with his mouth wide open and there was blood in the bathroom and there was vomit all over the wall, and there were signs of diarrhoea," Pakistan's media manager P.J. Mir said the day Mr. Woolmer was pronounced dead.
Onthe day Mr. Woolmer died, the Major Investigation Team Task Force was called in to investigate. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mark Shields, a former Scotland Yard expatriate, said that like every sudden death, it was being treated as a murder investigation unless proven otherwise.
A post-mortem conducted by government pathologist Dr. Ere Sheshiah two days later, according to DCP Shields, proved inclusive. He said the police would await toxicology and histology results from Mr. Woolmer's blood and tissue samples to determine cause of death.
Hours later
DCP shields convenes another press conference: "Having met with 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."
Less than 24 hours later
The police High Command said the opinion of a second pathologist was being sought. The police later determined that this was no longer necessary.
March 21 - Gleaner scoop
High-ranking police source privy to the Dr. Sheshiah's findings informed The Gleaner that Mr. Woolmer had been strangled.
"A bone in the neck, near the glands, was broken, and this suggests that somebody might have put some pressure on it,"
Big announcement
Later that evening, Director of Communications, Karl Angell, read a statement on behalf of Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas at the 'mother of all press conferences'....
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
