Death of Bob Woolmer

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On 18 March 2007, following Pakistan's unexpected defeat by Ireland in the 2007 Cricket World Cup a day earlier, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica and died hours later.

Contents 1 Discovery and initial speculation 2 Investigation and further speculation 2.1 Speculation by Woolmer's wife 3 Tributes 4 Timeline of events 5 References

[edit] Discovery and initial speculation

Woolmer was found lying half-naked in his towel, unconscious on the floor in his hotel bathroom at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.^[1] He was taken to the nearby University Hospital, where he was confirmed dead. Paramedics made several attempts to revive him but to no avail.^[2]

Immediately, a number of theories were put forward as to Woolmer's sudden death. Pervez Mir, the Pakistan team media manager said that Woolmer had suffered from an unnamed medical condition although Naseem Ashraf, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), later said that Woolmer had complained of breathing difficulties before the team left for the World Cup, and also revealed that he was a type 2 diabetic.^[3][4] Woolmer's son was subsequently reported as saying that Woolmer may have died as a result of stress brought on by his job or from a heart attack.^[5] Woolmer's wife, meanwhile, strongly dismissed the suggestion that his death may have been suicide.^[6]

[edit] Investigation and further speculation

Initially, the Deputy Commissioner of Jamaican Police, Mark Shields, said "There is no evidence it's a homicide, but we're waiting for further information from the pathologist before making any more statements".^[7] However, on 23 March, following the results of an investigation by a second pathologist, the Jamaican Police announced that Woolmer was believed to have been strangled, and that his death was being treated as a murder. ^[8] The investigation is currently underway.

In advance of an official report on the death,^[9] uncorroborated speculation about the cause of death has been rife. Outspoken ex-Pakistan cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz has claimed that betting syndicates had been involved in the death.

The Jamaica Gleaner said a "high-ranking police officer" had confirmed that fresh evidence had surfaced suggesting that Woolmer was strangled in his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel between Saturday night and Sunday morning. According to the police officer, Woolmer was found half-naked in his room, partially wrapped in a towel. "A bone in the neck, near the glands, was broken, and this suggests that somebody might have put some pressure on it," the officer told the newspaper.

"We are now treating this as a homicide." The Jamaica Observer also quoted unnamed sources close to the investigation as saying that bones in the lower part of Woolmer's face were broken, suggesting he had been strangled.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, head of World Cup security here, however refused to confirm rumours of strangulation, the Gleaner said. Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields had said on Tuesday that an autopsy conducted on Woolmer's body by a government pathologist proved inconclusive as to the cause of death which was being treated as "suspicious." Shields said the police were awaiting the results of the toxicology and histology analysis from Woolmer's tissue sample.

Detectives also reviewed tapes from closed-circuit cameras at the hotel, which could give them clues as to who entered Woolmer's room during the period in question. Mark Shields said that CCTV footage is pretty comprehensive and they are looking into it. He said that it does not show the doors but shows the corridors at either end which will give an indication of who was on that floor.[3]

On 22 March, Jamaican police confirmed that a murder investigation has been launched due to the circumstances of Woolmer's death, specifically that he had died of asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation^[10]. The Sunday Mirror reported that police had received a tip that the poison Aconite may to have been used in Woolmer's murder. ^[11]. The entire Pakistan cricket team has been fingerprinted and interviewed. DNA samples are to be taken from all the Pakistan players.^[12] On 24 March, Jamaican police took DNA tests of West Indies cricket player and the then captain, Brian Lara, as he occupied a room opposite to Bob Woolmer's room.^[13]. Its possible that the murder has nothing to do with cricket or match-fixing, as Jamaica has one of the highest rates of murder in the world.^[14]. However, Lead investigator Mark Shields said in an interview on 26 March, that "It seems highly unlikely that a Jamaican has walked off the street, got into a secure lift to the 12th floor, gone into his room, without any sign of a forced entry, and murdered him."^[15] Therefore, there is now a theory that killers were disguised as hotel staff, entered his room in the morning, with his permission (since there was no forced entry or struggle) and killed him. Also, 3 murders took place in the hotel during the last 18 months. [4]

In a press conference on 26 March, Detective Shields announced that the Jamaican Police were seeking three Pakistani men who were acting as non-official aides to the National team, and who had left Jamaica "shortly after" Mr Woolmer was found (time unspecified in press conference). The three men are described as 'gofers' or 'hangers-on' who ran errands for players during the world cup and had close contact with the team. There was no indication from Detective Shields that the men were suspects, only that he wished to "eliminate them from our inquiries". One of the men detectives were seeking is Hamed Malik, who is believed to live in England. The others are Erfan Chaudhary, from New York and Jundie Khan, from Florida. ^[16].

On 27 March, three days after leaving the West Indies for Pakistan, via London, the Pakistan team were ruled out as suspects. The deputy commissioner of Jamaican police. Mark Shields, the detective in charge of the investigation, announced, "It's fair to say they are now being treated as witnesses." "I have got no evidence to suggest it was anybody in the squad."^[17] Police also announced that an independent second post-mortem will be conducted for the benefit of any future court trial. ^[18] The coroner would not be releasing the body for funeral until then. However, on 28 March, the police denied readiness to perform a second autopsy to end media speculation that first autopsy was not correct and that there was enough proof to conclude that Woolmer died naturally. ^[19]

A team of Scotland Yard homicide detectives, numbering about six, are to work alongside Jamaican investigators as part of the ongoing probe into the murder. ^{[20] [21]}.The team of detectives and two Interpol staff arrived in Kingston to assist the Jamaican police in the Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer's murder investigation on April 4, 2007. ^[22]

[edit] Speculation by Woolmer's wife

Initially Bob Woolmer's wife Gill denied claims that betting syndicates had been involved in the death. In an interview with India-based NDTV, she said "I don't see any conspiracy in his death", adding "He had nothing to do with the match-fixing controversy and any such person being involved is highly unlikely. We never got any threats as far as I know".^[23] In an interview with Sky Sports News she said that although there was "no way" it was suicide, there was a possibility of murder: "some of the cricket fraternity and fans are extremely passionate about the game and what happens in the game, particularly in Asia, so there is always the possibility of that".^[24]

She added: "It fills me with horror, I just can't believe that people could behave like that or that anyone would want to harm someone who has done such a great service to international cricket."^[25].

[edit] Tributes

Tributes were paid to Woolmer by members of the Pakistan cricket team, and by the cricketing community including former cricketer Michael Holding and former umpire Dickie Bird.^[26][27] All teams wore black armbands, flags in all the cricket stadiums were flown at half-mast and a minute's silence was observed in his honour before the games in the days after his death, including the last 2007 World Cup match of Pakistan against Zimbabwe.^[28] The Pakistan president, Pervez Musharraf, posthumously honoured Bob Woolmer with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (star of Excellence), a high ranking civil award, for his contribution to Pakistan cricket. ^[29]Tributes were paid to Woolmer by his wife, two sons and current international cricket players at a sombre memorial service in Cape Town on April 5, 2007.^[30]

[edit] Timeline of events

9 March

• A tear gas canister explodes on the eighth floor of the Trinidad Hilton Hotel,^[31] where the Pakistan, Ireland and Canadian teams are staying. The hotel is evacuated for four hours. It is unclear if Woolmer's subsequent death is connected to the tear-gas attack.^[32]

17 March

• Pakistan loses to Ireland by three wickets in an upset defeat, eliminating Pakistan from 2007 World Cup.^[33]

18 March

• In the early hours of the morning following this defeat, in an email to chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Dr Nasim Ashraf, Woolmer tenders his resignation as coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team.^[34]
• 10:45 AM: Woolmer is found unconscious in room 374 on the 12th floor of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel by a maid.^[35]
• 12:14 PM: After being transported to University Hospital of the West Indies, Woolmer is pronounced dead by doctors.^[36]

21 March

• Pathologist Dr. Ere Sheshiah conducts a post-mortem from 9:35am till 12 noon at Kingston Public Hospital. He refuses to rule out a heart-attack or suicide and asks police that the formal results of the autopsy not be announced until after the results of toxicology reports. ^[37]
• Jamaica Police announce that they have informed Woolmer's family that they are treating Woolmer's death as suspicious. ^[38]

22 March

• The Jamaican Police announce that they are seeking the advice of a second pathologist from the United States.^[39] The police also seize CCTV footage and other electronic records from the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in order to examine them.^[40]

• Lucius Thomas, the Jamaican police commissioner, announces that the American doctor's post-mortem has established that Bob Woolmer had been strangled. Blood and vomit were found on the walls, and a broken bone in Woolmer's neck. Two other murders took place in the same hotel in 2005.^[41]
• Deputy commissioner Mark Shields says that there was no sign of forced entry or struggle in his room and that Woolmer was a big man who would have taken significant force to subdue. He also says that since there was no sign of struggle, the killer was probably someone known to Woolmer.^[8]

• Jamaican Police confirm that Woolmer's death is now being treated as murder.^[8]

23 March

• The Jamaican Police announce that Bob Woolmer was murdered in his hotel room and may have known his killer or killers. The pathologist's post-mortem report established that he had died of as a result of "manual strangulation".^[42]

24 March

• Les Green, the policeman leading the Major Investigation Task Force, says that the Jamaican authorities have ordered an inquest with a jury into the murder. No date has yet been established for the inquest. Bob Woolmer's body will therefore remain in Jamaica.
• The police also deny reports that 2 Pakistanis have been arrested in connection with the murder. ^[43]
• The Jamaica police obtain DNA samples from Pakistan team members to help eliminate potential suspects ^[44].
• Inzamam-ul-Haq, Talat Ali and Mushtaq Ahmed are questioned further by police. The team then leave Jamaica.^[45]
• Two Pakistani government officials arrive in Jamaica to assist in the probe into Woolmer's death^[46].

27 March

• Three days after leaving the West Indies for Pakistan, via London, the Pakistan team are ruled out as suspects.^[47]
• Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz calls Bob Woolmer a national hero and says his killers must be brought to book.^[48].

29 March

• Police denied readiness to perform second autopsy to end media speculation that first autopsy was not correct and there was enough proof that Woolmer died naturally. ^[49].

1 April

• Police received a phone call from an anonymous man, thought to be from Pakistan, claiming that aconite killed Woolmer. [5]

[edit] References