Jamaica police denies second autopsy being ordered

Kingston, Mar 29 (UNI) In another media speculation gone awry, Jamaica police have dismissed reports of second post mortem being ordered on Bob Woolmer's dead body to confirm that he was strangled and could not have died of natural causes.

Lambasting the media for circulating another piece of unhealthy and unhelpful speculation, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields said there was no reason to order a second autopsy at this stage and doing so would detract from the main track of inquiry.

''That (media report) is not true. We have not asked for a second post mortem. At this point ordering a second post-mortem would detract from the main track of inquiry. Any day that there's no new development, something is made up to keep media happy,'' Shields told NDTV at Kingston when asked to confirm the reports emanating from British media.

''The reality is that we have a cause of death and we have an investigation to a murder. There has been no call for a second post mortem. So, I do not know where that came from,''he said.

''If there was going to be a second post mortem it could only be on two counts. One: if it is ordered by the coroner but he has not done that. Secondly, if we had a suspect in custody the defence may order another autopsy but since we have no one in custody,'' the former Scotland Yard detective explained.

Shields' denial of second autopsy would also answer Pakistan Cricket Board's reported suspicions that Woolmer's death was due to natural causes and that the Jamaican police acted hastily by declaring it a murder.

Shields reiterated his stand on second autopsy while addressing journalists at a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel yesterday, saying contrary to reports in the international media there will be no second post-mortem on Woolmer's body.

''If there was any discussion about a second post-mortem at any stage, that would be something that I would discuss with him (the coroner) and then announce,'' Shields told journalists.

''It will stay as a murder investigation.'' MORE UNI