CONSULTANT forensic pathologist Dr Ere Seshiah was again criticised yesterday for the method he used in the dissection of Bob Woolmer’s neck during the post mortem on the late Pakistan cricket coach.

Attorney Jermaine Spence, who is representing the International Cricket Council at the coroner’s inquest into Woolmer’s death at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, said Seshiah did not follow international post mortem procedures.

“It seems all three experts are disagreeing with the way you proceeded,” Spence put to the pathologist.

Seshiah, however, stood his ground.

“It is their opinion, but despite what they say I stand by my view,” Seshiah replied.

“Is it true that in the medical profession a preponderance of opinion in any matter carries much weight?” Spence asked.

“That is a bizarre question without reference to a particular point. What I say is also dependent on my findings and opinion,” Seshiah responded.

“Does that mean, Dr Seshiah, that if most pathologists say a thing must be done one way, would you depart from it?” Spence queried.

“Every pathologist has their own method,” Seshiah said. “I will take a slight deviation, but not deviate totally.”

Yesterday, video footage of Seshiah’s extraction of Woolmer’s hyoid bone was shown in court and Spence pointed to what he described as flaws in the pathologist’s technique.

“With respect to your observation of the hyoid bone, isn’t it true that you failed to remove a number of the surrounding muscles?” Spence asked.

“I cut the muscles surrounding the hyoid bone to observe the bone and when I was giving it to the police to do the X-ray I did the final dissection,” Seshiah replied.

At times Seshiah seemed upset at Spence’s line of questioning and raised his voice on at least one occasion.

Earlier, the pathologist hit back at the three overseas-based experts – Professor Lorna Martin of South Africa, Dr Michael Pollanen of Canada and Dr Nathaniel Cary of Britain – who were all critical of his finding that Woolmer died of asphyxia due to manual strangulation.

“The theory of a fall put forward by Dr Pollanen to explain the bruising on the neck fails to explain how Mr Woolmer had injuries on the nose and ear and his opinion is not final,” Seshiah testified. “When it is not final we cannot take that into consideration.”

He was also critical of Martin.

“It is customary to withhold cremation or at least make a personal verification to ascertain the post mortem findings. Dr Martin has done neither and allowed the body to get cremated thus completely destroying the evidence,” Seshiah said.

Seshiah stoutly defended his integrity and insisted that Woolmer was killed.