Workers at Roman's Funeral Home in Kingston place the body of former Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer into a hearse yesterday. Mr. Woolmer's body was scheduled to be flown to London yesterday and then on to Cape Town, South Africa, to be delivered to his family. -Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer

Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Two senior Pakistani detectives sent to Jamaica to assist in the investigation into the death of their national cricket team coach, Bob Woolmer, were set to return home yesterday, having expressed satisfaction with the work of local police.

Speaking during a press conference at the Police Officers' Club, Hope Road, St. Andrew, Deputy Inspector General Mir Zubair Mahmood said that, currently, no investigation has started in Pakistan. In response to questions, the investigators said Pakistan would be prepared to send nationals, be they from the cricket team or government, to Jamaica if requested by local police.

But Jamaica has not asked yet, confirmed Mr. Mahmood who described his role and that of his colleague Senior Superintendent Syed Khalid Imam, as "observers".

"I am going home fully satisfied and feel that the investigation is heading in the right direction. We will remain in touch and available to the Jamaican government and police as and when they require our assistance," said Mr. Mahmood.

Shields to visit South Africa

Meanwhile, DCP Shields said he would be visiting South Africa in the next couple of weeks. He declined to reveal further details about the case.

DCP Shields said the South Africa trip would be to interview Mr. Woolmer's family in Cape Town as well as to update South African police. "There will be other things I will be doing in South Africa, but I don't wish to share those with you."

ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com

Woolmer's body off to South Africa

The body of former Pakistan cricket coach, Bob Woolmer, left the island yesterday for Cape Town, South Africa. Departing on an Air Jamaica Flight from Norman Manley International Airport at 10:10 p.m., the body is to be flown first to Heathrow Airport in London, England, and then on to his family in Cape Town on Sunday.

About 12:20 p.m., local press representatives, under the watchful eyes of police officers, observed as Mr. Woolmer's body, placed within a shipping case, was transported in a white Lincoln hearse from Roman's Funeral Home in Kingston to the airport.

Winston Roman, a director at the funeral home, said the shipping case consisted of a coffin covered by a box. At the top left of the box was inscribed, 'Head'.

"He was here as a 'passenger' now going back as a cargo," said an onlooker from the community.

The minimum clearage time for a corpse at the airport is five hours, informed Mr. Roman.

No extra work

"Shipping or keeping Mr. Woolmer's body was no extra work for us. This is what we do and we ship bodies to relatives overseas every week," Mr. Roman said.

The return of the late Pakistan cricket team coach follows a release order made on Monday by Coroner Patrick Murphy.