Commission to review Woolmer death investigation

Kingston, Jun 14 (UNI) Jamaican government has decided to set up a commission to carry out a review of the circumstances surrounding the investigation into the death of former Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.

National Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips has appointed former president of the Court of Appeal Justice Ian Forte to ''assess the appropriateness of the techniques and the standards of professionalism employed by police investigators, as well as medical and other professional personnel.'' Dr Phillips, who made the announcement in Parliament yesterday, said the review would be completed within six weeks and a report was to be submitted by July 31.

The announcement comes a day after after Jamaica police closed the so-called murder investigation by disclosing that the former Pakistan cricket coach'' died of natural causes'' in his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

While the Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas admitted to 'Jamica Gleaner' that investigators had acted hastily in concluding that Woolmer was murdered, Dr Phillips, patted on the back of Jamaican police.

''It is not anyone else who suggested that they wanted to give an opinion, it is police, as part of their own investigations, that sought other opinions in the relevant areas and they are to be commended for it,'' he said.

In his presentation to the Sectoral Debate yesterday, he also praised police for ''treating the matter in the most open and transparent fashion possible.'' Dr Phillips, however, admitted that the circumstances of the case brought into focus the need for the most up-to-date forensic capabilities possible.

UNI