Nadeem Khan, a Pakistani fan, was nearly thrown out of Sabina Park for holding up this sign inside the stadium yesterday, when Pakistan met Zimbabwe in Cricket World Cup action. The Gleaner witnessed Khan being told by Ray Foy, stadia safety manager, that his sign was unnerving people, and he should not show it anymore. During the game he sat next to the Pakistan dressing room, and Mr. Foy told him he had received enough complaints about his sign. Khan said he was just honouring Bob Woolmer's memory. - Photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

A high-ranking police officer confirmed yesterday that fresh evidence has surfaced, suggesting that Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer was strangled in his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

According to the police officer, the 58-year-old Woolmer was found half naked in his room, partially wrapped in a towel.

Homicide

"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 Gleaner.

"We are now treating this as a homicide."

Despite this, Assistant Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, head of World Cup security here, said he was not confirming any rumours of strangulation.

On Tuesday, an autopsy conducted on Woolmer's body by Government pathologist, Dr. Ere Sheshiah, proved inconclusive as to the cause of death.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields said then that the police were awaiting the results of the toxicology and histology analysis from Woolmer's tissue sample.

Late yesterday, however, a release from the Jamaica Constabulary Force director of communications, Karl Angell, said a second opinion was being sought.

A second pathologist

"Following consultations today (yesterday) involving representatives from the Government of Jamaica and the police, a decision was taken to seek the opinion of a second pathologist," the release said.

Meanwhile, a high-profile police team, led by top investigator, Deputy Superintendent of Police Colin Pinnock, held a high-level meeting on the ground floor of the Pegasus hotel as the investigations intensified.

The Gleaner was told that the police last night interviewed members of the Pakistan cricket team.

Initially, arrangements were made for the police to interview the players this morning before their flight to Montego Bay, St. James where they will spend two days before leaving on Saturday.

It is now unclear whether the team will be allowed to leave as initially scheduled.

Apart from combing the room in which Woolmer was found for more evidence, the police yesterday interviewed hotel staff who worked on the day Woolmer was found in his room.

The detectives also reviewed tapes from closed-circuit cameras at the hotel, which should give them clues as to who entered his room during the period in question.

The Gleaner has also been reliably informed that Woolmer was found unconscious in his room just after 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning and not at 10:45 a.m. as Pakistan's media manager P.J. Mir said on Sunday.

However Eldon Bremner, the hotel's general manager, has said the 8:00 a.m. suggestion is "grossly inaccurate" and added that he would not comment further as it was a police matter.

Yesterday Pakistan won their first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup, beating Zimbabwe at Sabina Park.

The day, despite being blessed with glorious strokeplay, was a sombre one, especially with Eagles Drum and Bugle Corp playing soft gospel music for most of the day. Many Pakistani fans held signs which sought to honour the memory of Woolmer.

The Pakistani players for the most part looked jaded and their captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, later said the last few days had been stressful for the team.

Inzamam-ul-Haq declined to field questions from the media during the post game press conference at Sabina Park. He however said the game was dedicated to Woolmer.

Meanwhile Mir, who spoke with The Gleaner after the press conference, dismissed the suggestions of strangulation as wild speculation.

"The statements of speculation which have come on Jamaican television, I'm afraid I cannot count them as accurate because ... 'the Jamaican Police Constabulary Force doesn't give us official information as to what are the causes of Bob's death," Mir said.

Mir, when asked by The Gleaner when the team will depart, took thought for a moment and then snapped "shortly".