BRITISH pathologist Dr Nathaniel Carey yesterday back-tracked on aspects of a report he filed earlier this year, in which he concluded that former Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes.

Carey, under examination from Director of Public Prosecutions Kent Pantry at the inquest into Woolmer’s death, openly criticised the techniques used by local consultant pathologist, Dr Ere Seshiah, remarking that Seshiah had wrongfully dissected Woolmer’s neck before removing his brain for analysis.

“I would say that is poor dissection technique,” Carey told the court.

But Carey retracted his statement after Pantry showed video footage of the autopsy which saw Seshiah and his assistants removing Woolmer’s brain and slicing it up before dissecting his neck.

“I made a mistake when I made my report that the neck was dissected before the brain was removed. I fully withdraw that,” Carey said.

However, Carey was still critical of the way Woolmer’s neck was dissected. He said the neck should have been drained of blood and the chest organs removed before dissection took place.

“You should also cut the skin around the root to get maximum exposure. You should dissect the neck a few muscles at a time taking photos at each stage. None of these were done in this case,” Carey testified.

Both men also locked horns several times during Pantry’s intense examination of his witness. Pantry asked if there would be external signs if a pillow was used in manual strangulation and Carey described the question as senseless.

“The proposition makes no sense at all. You can’t use a pillow in manual strangulation,” Carey replied.

At that point Pantry appeared to be close to losing his cool.

“I treat you with respect and I would appreciate if you treat me with respect,” Pantry said.

Pantry also seemed peeved when Carey tried to expand on an answer he gave to a question.

“Doctor just answer the question,” Pantry said. “You are not here to determine how to give evidence in Jamaica”.

“I have sworn to tell the whole truth,” Carey replied.