DEPUTY Superintendent of Police Colin Pinnock testified yesterday that government pathologist Dr. Ere Seshaiah told him on the day he completed a post-mortem on the Pakistan cricket coach that Bob Woolmer was strangled.

Pinnock, who was part of the team assigned to investigate the 58-year-old former England player's death, was one of two witnesses to take the stand on the 24th day of the coroner's inquest at the Jamaica Conference Centre.

His testimony contradicted that of Dr. Seshaiah who said he was prodded to give a cause of death so the police could proceed with their investigations.

Marks on neck

Pinnock said following the post-mortem at the Kingston Public Hospital on March 20, Dr. Seshaiah took him aside and informed him of marks around Woolmer's neck.

"He told me there was pressure to that region," Pinnock told the court, under questioning from Director of Public Prosecutions Kent Pantry.

He said at that time, Deputy Superintendent MacArthur Sutherland, crime officer for the St. Andrew Central Police Division, was passing and heard the conversation.

"'You mean he was strangled?'" Pinnock said Sutherland asked, to which Dr. Seshaiah responded, "Exactly."

Two days later, Pinnock said, the Indian-born Seshaiah gave in his report. It stated Woolmer, died from asphyxia caused by manual strangulation, but said he was awaiting further test results from the Government Forensic Science Laboratory in Kingston.

Shocking

Woolmer's death was even more shocking than Ireland's upset win over Pakistan on March 17 at Sabina Park. His body was found by staff in the bathroom of his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel the following morning.

Doctors testified that Woolmer was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of the West Indies just after noon on March 18.

During his testimony, Dr. Seshaiah changed the cause of death to asphyxia caused by manual strangulation associated with cypermethrin poisoning.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields testified for a sixth straight day yesterday.