DR. ERE Seshaiah, the government pathologist whose reputation has taken a battering over his handling of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer's death, yesterday gave a stunning testimony on the seventh day of the coroner's inquest at the Jamaica Conference Centre.
The India-born Seshaiah said Woolmer died from asphyxia caused by manual strangulation associated with cypermethrin poisoning. In April, he gave asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation as the cause of death.
Toxicology report
Questioned by Director of Public Prosecutions Kent Pantry, Dr. Seshaiah said he received the toxicology report from the police, after several requests, on June 21. He did not say if the report showed traces of the pesticide in Woolmer's body.
Dr. Seshaiah stated that the reaction from Woolmer's body was consistent with the consumption of cypermethrin, which is usually used in Asian countries where cotton is grown.
"If taken orally it metabolises rapidly and excretes from the body quickly. There is increased salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscular incoordination and tremors," he explained.
The latest statement on an already controversial case shocked most in the room. On June 12, Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas told a press conference at his St. Andrew office that, according to a toxicology report, no toxic substance was found in Woolmer's body. Dressed in a dark suit, the diminutive Dr. Seshaiah sat throughout his three-hour testimony. He spoke of getting indifferent treatment from local law enforcement, starting on March 22 when he gave his post-mortem report.
"I had not received all the lab reports so I gave cause of death as pending," he said. "I was told by investigators that it was an important case and asked to give my opinion (on the cause of death) so they could proceed with their investigations."
Dr. Seshaiah said he told them then that Woolmer died from asphyxia due to manual strangulation. He said he would provide additional information once the final reports were filed.
Dr. Seshaiah said he was the last of four pathologists involved with the case to see the X-rays and histology report.
