Police say Woolmer death still suspicious

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 23 (Reuters) Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer's death was ''still considered suspicious'', Jamaican police deputy commissioner Mark Shields told reporters.

Conflicting reports emerged that Woolmer might have suffered an accidental death or been strangled but Shields said: ''There has been no change in status. It is still considered suspicious.

''We hope to get the pathologist's report later today and then we can make a formal statement later today.'' Jamaican police had earlier interviewed every member of the Pakistan World Cup team as part of the investigation.

''We do not have any suspects. The Pakistan team are free to leave,'' Shields said yesterday.

Former England batsman Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Pakistan's shock World Cup defeat by Ireland which knocked them out of the tournament.

He was pronounced dead in hospital later that day.

The death of Woolmer, regarded as one of the best coaches in the world, has cast a pall on the Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean which lasts for seven weeks and culminates in the final on April 28.

Pakistan left the Pegasus hotel in mid-afternoon to fly to Montego Bay where they were scheduled to stay until tomorrow before flying home.

'TOTAL CO-OPERATION' Shields continued: ''We have been working closely with the Pakistan team, the ICC (International Cricket Council) and everyone else for the same end -- to find out what happened. We have had nothing but total co-operation.'' He said they had all provided fingerprints and confirmed that other teams at the hotel had been interviewed too. ''Today happened to be the turn of Pakistan.'' Earlier, yesterday's edition of the local daily newspaper The Gleaner quoted an unnamed police source saying a murder investigation would soon be announced. The paper said there were signs Woolmer had been strangled.

Sky Television in Britain later ran an unsourced report that Woolmer broke a bone in his throat while vomiting. They reported the coach suffered the injury after falling against a toilet bowl.

Woolmer's widow Gill gave an interview to Sky TV saying she had not ruled out her husband being murdered.

A police source told Reuters that two members of the hotel's staff, who were among the first to find Woolmer, had also been questioned.

A hotel source said that the women had been taken off regular duties and were told to refrain from speaking with anyone about what they saw.

Reuters DH VP0414