Woolmer was murdered: Indian-born pathologist sticks to the gun

Kingston, June 13 (UNI) Even as critics bayed for his head, Dr Ere Seshaiah, the Indian-born Jamaican government pathologist who performed the post-mortem on Bob Woolmer, defended his autopsy report which conluded that the former Pakistan coach was murdered.

The government pathologist drew flak from all quarters after Jamaican Police yesterday closed their two-and-a-half-month-long investigation concluding that Woolmer ''died of natural causes.'' ''I am sticking to my findings. He was murdered,'' Seshaiah was quoted as saying by Jamaica Observer.

''Woolmer is not a first for me, I have been doing autopsies here since 1995.'' Dr Seshaiah's insistence that Woolmer was murdered is therefore likely to result in the issue being settled in a coroner's court, as the file detailing the four pathologists' findings, as well as the results of tests carried out on fluid and tissue samples taken from Woolmer's body, and results of the investigation will now be handed over to the coroner for the Corporate Area, Patrick Murphy.

In a press conference at the Police Officers' Club in Kingston yesterday Jamaican Poilce Commissioner Lucius Thomas said three independent pathologists -- Dr Nat Carey of the United Kingdom, Professor Lorna Martin of South Africa, and Dr Michael Pollenan of Canada -- all concluded that Woolmer died from a heart attack caused by a combination of illnesses.

Former South African cricket captain and close friend of Woolmer, Clive Rice, had also defended Dr Seshaiah's findings. Rice had recently alleged that there was an attempt at a cover up because of a fear factor involved for all cricketers and cricket coaches.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Security is to assess the role of government pathologist Dr Seshaiah and the questionable autopsy report.

The Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith, is joining those calling for the government pathologist to be sacked.

UNI