Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Woolmer

BRITISH PATHOLOGIST, Dr. Nathaniel Cary, yesterday told a coroner's inquest into the death of late Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer, that based on post-mortem examination files and photographs, it is unlikely Woolmer was murdered.

Dr. Cary, who works with the Metropolitan Police in London, ruled in May that Woolmer's March 18 death at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St. Andrew was due to heart failure.

This rebutted the analysis of Jamaican government pathologist Dr. Ere Seshaiah who said the former England cricketer died from asphyxia resulting from manual strangulation.

Dr. Cary was one of three persons who testified on the opening day of the inquest at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

He said photos provided by the Jamaican police suggested the 56-year-old Woolmer's poor health contributed to his death.

"If I was asked if there was a violent struggle (in the room), I would say no," Dr. Cary told an 11-member jury. He added that bloodstains found on Woolmer's pillow were "consistent with either bloodstained vomit or saliva" and that fluid in the lungs occurred when a person's heart failed.

A terse exchange

In what was at times a terse exchange with Kent Pantry, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Cary said there was no indication that Woolmer had been strangled.

"The photos revealed no tiny lines in the skin or on the eyelids, which usually indicates death by asphyxia," he said.

Dr. Cary noted that other factors could have led to Woolmer's death. "He had diabetes, which could have gone out of control, but my understanding is that he was all right."

The Metropolitan Police's analysis was corroborated by two other pathologists, Dr. Michael Pollanen in Ontario, Canada, and Professor Lorna Martin of Cape Town, South Africa.

Bernice Robinson, the room attendant who found Woolmer's body in his hotel room, and hotel waitress Imogene Douglas also testified yesterday. Robinson said she discovered the body in the bathroom on her second visit to the room. On her first visit, one hour before, she said she heard snoring sounds.

The DPP's office was represented by Mr. Pantry, Tanya Spence and Dirk Harrison. The inquest continues today with Dr. Cary continuing his testimony.