Pakistan Cricket Board wants probe into Woolmer case
June 19, 2007
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says the Jamaican authorities should conduct a speedy probe into the circumstances surrounding Bob Woolmer's death after Dr. Ere Seshaiah, who performed the first autopsy, maintained that the coach was murdered.
Last week, Jamaican police announced they were no longer treating the Pakistan cricket coach's death as murder, based on the opinions of three recognised international experts who reviewed Dr. Seshaiah's findings. Despite this, Dr. Seshaiah is maintaining that Woolmer was killed by manual strangulation.
Director of Cricket Operations of the PCB, Zakir Khan, said the police should hold an enquiry to determine the divergence of opinions on the autopsyresults.
"We want this matter closed now. It has already caused enough heartbreak and trauma. But yes, we would expect the Jamaican authorities to hold an internal inquiry into this mess up," Khan said.
Khan, last week, ruled out taking any legal action against the Jamaica Constabulary Force or Seshaiah, but said the PCB would want the Jamaican authorities to analyse their handling of the case.
National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips announced in Parliament last week that a former president of the Court of Appeal, Ian Forte, would chair a committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of Woolmer, including whether the police bungled the investigation.
"It would be good if they took a look at what went wrong, and held an inquiry as this entire episode was a source of pressure for us," Khan said.
After a three-month-long investigation, the Jamaica Constabulary Force stated that Woolmer died of "natural causes" and ended its investigation.
Woolmer, 58, was found dead in his hotel room soaked in vomit on March 18, a day after Pakistan made an ignominious exit from the Cricket World Cup.
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
