Cops claim foul play in Bob death

New Delhi: Hours after the Pakistan Cricket Board revealed that the findings from a post-mortem into the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer were "inconclusive", Pakistan's Geo TV on Wednesday claimed that the probe is now focusing on a murder angle.

The Jamaican police later confirmed that Bob Woolmer's death was not natural and that he seems to have died of "poisoning".

The police termed the nature of death as "suspicious" and said it is possible that Woolmer's food was poisoned. They, however, clarified that suspicion doesn't necessarily mean a negative outcome.

Mark Shields, the deputy chief constable of the Jamaican police force, confirmed that the death was being treated as suspicious.

"The post-mortem into the death of Mr Woolmer was inconclusive," he said.

"But having met with the pathologists and other medical personnel, there is sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances of Mr Woolmer's death which is now being treated as suspicious."

"At this stage, we can't say it's a murder or anything else," the police said.

The cops did say that fingerprints have been found from Bob Woolmer's room. They also confirmed that the Pakistani cricket team has been advised not to leave the hotel. The police have already questioned the physio and the trainer of the Pakistani team.

Geo TV's Sports Correspondent Kamran Abdul Mannan told CNN-IBN that their Jamaican sources have revealed that "traces of poison" were found in Woolmer's body and this confirms that Woolmer actually died of "poisoning".

He, however, said it was not yet clear whether it was a case of murder or a suicide.

Mannan also revealed that the movement of the Pakistani cricket team has been restricted and all the players have been told to stay in their rooms.

However, PCB claims that no such restrictions has been put on the players and they are free to move around.

The PCB is also likely to hold a press conference later in the day.

Meanwhile, Pakistan team's spokesperson Pervez Mir said, "We are accepting whatever the police are saying. They say it is a suspicious death and investigations are on. But suspicious does not always mean that it is something negative."

The Pakistani Urdu television network earlier quoted the Jamaica police as claiming that the findings of the post-mortem have raised reasonable suspicion that Woolmer was actually murdered.

The report came after further investigations were carried out by a toxicologist and a histologist (scientist who examines body tissue) into Woolmer's death.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board had claimed that the findings from the post-mortem were "inconclusive". The press conference of the Pakistan Cricket Board was, however, held while the results of the toxicology and histology tests were still being awaited.

Mark Shields, deputy commissioner of the Jamaican police constabulary (crime division), said the body could not be released until the pathologist had completed his examination.

"I know that the scientists are treating it with the utmost urgency in order that we can hopefully repatriate the body to his family as soon as possible," Shields said.

Asked when the scientists' conclusions would be available, Shields replied: "I just know they are working as quickly as possible to provide the information that we need. I hope it's today, but it could be tomorrow," he said on Wednesday.

He added that it was quite normal for there to be delays over a post mortem findings and refused to speculate on the causes of the death. The police said Woolmer died in hospital at 1214 hours local time (1714 hours British time) on Sunday.

Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on Sunday after his team had been eliminated from the World Cup by debutants Ireland less than 24 hours earlier.

(With input from Agencies)

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