Cops mum on Bob Woolmer’s toxicology test results
THE long-awaited test results conducted on tissue and fluid samples taken from the body of former Pakistan Cricket Coach Bob Woolmer are now in the hands of the police who declined yesterday to comment on the findings, saying there was need for further investigation and analysis.
“The toxicology results are here. They will require further investigation and analysis,” deputy commissioner Mark Shields told journalists at a press conference at the Police Officers Club in Kingston. “If I am asked any question about it, I will not answer those questions. All I will say is that we have some results back and it will require further analysis and investigation. that’s all I am prepared to say about it,” Shields said.
The tests were conducted at Jamaica’s National Government Laboratory and the Forensic Laboratory.
In addition, Shields said Scotland Yard had returned parts of the CCTV footage recorded at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston where Woolmer was found unconscious on March 18 – the morning after Pakistan suffered a shock defeat to little-rated Ireland and failed to advance to the second round of the Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007. He was subsequently pronounced dead in hospital.
“It was sent there ( to Scotland Yard) because they have the facilities and manpower to view the tapes quickly. We got some earlier this week and some arrived today, (yesterday),” head of the local investigating team, Deputy Commissioner Mark Shields told the Sunday Observer.
Shields had earlier said that there was hours of footage to be perused, and urged patience with the length of time the reviewing process was taking.
Thirty local officers have been working full time on the case.
Earlier this week, two members of the Pakistani Police Force arrived in the island to liaise with local investigators.
“If there are any irregularities they will be able to help us clear them up and assist with anything that needs to be done in Pakistan,” Shields said.
A coroner’s inquest into Woolmer’s death will start on April 23 at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.
