Local cop plays it safe, denounces Woolmer toxin theory

Kingston/London, Apr 3 (UNI) Director of communications for the Jamaica Constabulary Force Karl Angell refused to be drawn into one of the many angles that led to late Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer's death.

Instead, he went by what is at their (police) disposal, which is the pathologist's report that suggests the burly 58-year-old coach died due to manual strangulation.

Amidst growing reports that poison did Woolmer in, Mr Angell played it safe, saying ''Thus far we have to work with what is at hand. At hand is the pathologist report that he (Woolmer) died from asphyxiation as a result of manual strangulation.'' ''As far as talks of poisoning (are concerned), we await the toxicology report from the forensic lab,'' he was quoted as saying to the 'Jamaica Gleaner'.

He, however, could not give a timeframe as to when the results would be ready.

Meanwhile, Dr Garfield Blake, immediate past president of Jamaica Association of Clinical Pathologists, said while he was unaware whether Aconite works in a way similar to cyanide, but it could be difficult to detect its presence in a toxicology test.

According to him, there are some general drugs such as cocaine and alcohol that are looked for in a toxicology test but ''there are hundreds of different drugs in the world and it would be difficult for a toxicologist to look for all of them.

''So unless you are going to tell them of the drugs that you suspect then they will look along those lines,'' he said, adding that ''certain drugs are examined depending on the locale.'' To drive home his point he noted that in Trinidad, for example, the first drug toxicologist would look for is Paraquat - a toxic pesticide, as it is prevalent in that country.

Dr Blake said an individual could also be poisoned as well as strangled simultaneously.

''These things are not mutually exclusive..,'' he said.

While the local police have said the cause was asphyxiation, owing to manual strangulation, forensic experts have stated that aconite would in fact cause asphyxiation.

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