Witness refuses to give further testimony at Woolmer inquest
A witness who testified Tuesday that she saw former cricket coach Bob Woolmer counting large wads of United States currency in the Pakistan dressing room at Sabina Park, yesterday refused to give any further testimony at the Coroner’s inquest.
Despite being threatened with a fine by Coroner Patrick Murphy, the witness insisted that she would give no further testimony because she had been receiving threatening telephones calls since her name and place of employment were published after giving testimony Tuesday.
She refused to answer questions posed to her by attorney representing the International Cricket Council, Jermaine Spence, after she had taken her oath.
“You had formed certain impressions of the money you saw?” Spence asked the woman, who appeared traumatised and fearful while on the witness stand.
“I don’t wish to answer,” the witness answered.
“May I ask you about how cricket is organised?” Spence asked again.
“I still won’t answer,” the witness replied.
At that point RM Murphy interjected.
“Why won’t you answer?” the magistrate asked.
“Your honour, as I said this morning I don’t want to talk anymore about it,” the woman said.
“I wish to advise you that when you are sworn and refuse to answer, then the law allows for a fine. I don’t want to impose a fine on you,” RM Murphy told the witness.
The witness then told the magistrate that she was fearful and her family members had warned that giving evidence at the inquest could result in her or her relatives being harmed. She said both her cellular telephones were ringing off the hook ever since her name and place of employment was carried in the media.
“It is serious times and anything can happen,” the witness said.