Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Investigators probing the death of former Pakistan cricket coach Bob, Woolmer, should stop speaking to the press, thus feeding media speculation, believes a senior Scotland Yard detective.

Speaking to The Gleaner on condition of anonymity, the officer, who has prior experience of liaising with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on operational matters, said that investigators should wait for the four-man Scotland Yard murder review team, which arrived in Jamaica yesterday, to complete its assessment before commenting further.

The murder review team was invited to Jamaica by Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas.

"If there is additional information that the first analysis (of the cause of Mr. Woolmer's death) may be in question, then it is an opportunity for the murder review team to objectively review this and, hopefully, make progress with the investigation. The investigating team needs to just step back for the time being and let the murder review team do their job," he said.

The detective declined to comment on the investigation itself, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields, but advised the police to be more certain before releasing information, given the intense international interest.

"Let's hope that the media hasn't influenced a rash analysis of the autopsy on Bob Woolmer's body. This is a very delicate situation and needs to be handled as such," he said.

"We have to be clear about the causes of death. At this time nothing is clear and it must be distressing for the family of Bob Woolmer ... it could also, it must have, affected tourism and Cricket World Cup 2007," he added.

No further press conferences

The police have held no further press conferences since the last was cancelled last Thursday.

The foreign media, frustrated at the lack of development in the case, have been warned against their speculative coverage by DCP Shields. Meanwhile, the English tabloids have become critical and increasingly personal in coverage of their countryman, the media-friendly DCP Shields, who is a former Scotland Yard officer; one of five to be recruited into the senior ranks of the JCF.

DCP Shields has cancelled his vacation leave to visit his family in the United Kingdom, which was due to begin on Thursday.

Journalists have been camped for over two weeks at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, where Mr. Woolmer was found unconscious in his room on the morning of Sunday, March 18. Pakistan had suffered a shock defeat to Ireland the day before, which knocked them out of Cricket World Cup at the group stage.

ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com