Scotland Yard investigate Woolmer 'strangling'

By ninemsn staff and wires

Scotland Yard has been called in to help investigate the death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer amid claims he was murdered by a "match-fixing mafia".

Two detectives from London's top police service are expected to arrive in Jamaica this week.

Quoting unnamed police sources, two Jamaican newspapers on Wednesday reported Woolmer, who holds a British passport, may have been strangled to death — citing a broken bone in his neck.

Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious by staff at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Sunday morning - the day after Pakistan's shock loss to cricketing minnows Ireland ended their World Cup hopes - and taken to hospital where he later died.

Police are treating the former England batsman's death in Jamaica at the weekend as "suspicious" but stopped short of suggesting that he had been murdered.

The Jamaica Gleaner said a "high-ranking police officer" had confirmed that fresh evidence has surfaced which suggested 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, the newspaper said.

"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.

A spokesman for the Jamaica Constabulary Force refused to confirm or deny reports that marks had been found on Woolmer's neck or that traces of poison had been found.

Former Pakistani fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz claimed Woolmer may have been murdered as part of a match-fixing plot.

"Woolmer's death has some connection with the match-fixing mafia," he said.

"I've been saying this for the last four days that Woolmer's death is not natural, but it's a murder."

But Woolmer's wife Gill told Indian television station NDTV: "No, I don't see any conspiracy in his death.

"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."

Police have interviewed staff at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, where Woolmer died, but no-one has been identified as a suspect in his death, assistant police commissioner Les Green told Radio Jamaica.

Police were also questioning the Pakistan cricketers, with the team expected to leave Jamaica, this weekend after bowing out of the World Cup.

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 93 runs, dedicating their victory to Woolmer.

The two teams observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect as they took to the field for the Group D match at Sabina Park.

The Pakistanis wore black armbands for their last game at the tournament.

It was also retiring captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's final one-day international.

"We dedicate this game to Bob because he's a wonderful person," Inzaman said.

"He's not in this world now and every Pakistani and every cricket lover is sad. I'm also very sad and what's why I'm emotional, also after playing 16 or 17 years."

Opening batsman Imran Nazir, named man of the match for his 121-ball innings of 160, added: "We were very upset because we lost Bob and we miss him and also Inzamam, who is a very good captain."

Younis Khan said the players could feel the spirit of Woolmer in the dressing room.

More tributes were paid in the UK on Wednesday.

Former Warwickshire chief executive Dennis Amiss gave his backing to the idea of a permanent memorial at Edgbaston.

During Woolmer's time as coach of Warwickshire, the county won the NatWest Trophy in 1993 and the treble of County Championship, Sunday League and Benson & Hedges Cup the following year.

"A permanent memorial to Bob Woolmer by Warwickshire would be a fitting tribute. He brought great honour to the club" Amiss said.