Woolmer was ''poisoned'' before being strangled: BBC

London, Apr 30 (UNI) Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, who was strangled to death during the cricket World Cup, was also poisoned to render him powerless to fight back, the BBC has revealed.

Based on the results of toxicology tests, the broadcaster will say in its Panorama programme to be aired later today that the former England cricketer was rendered helpless before being strangled.

''A Panorama investigation has learned that a toxicology report on Woolmer's body shows that there was a drug in his body that would have incapacitated him,'' it said.

The final results of the report are due to be given to Jamaican police next week, but Panorama's Adam Parsons says ''these tests will show there was a drug in his system that would have incapacitated Mr Woolmer.'' ''It now seems certain that as he was being strangled, he'd already been rendered helpless -- leaving him unable to fight back.'' ''The specific details of that poison are now very likely to offer a significant lead to finding his murderer.'' Jamaica Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields who is leading the murder investigation told Panorama that it was ''difficult and it's rare'' for one man to strangle another.'' ''A lot of force would be need to do that. Woolmer was a large man and that's why one could argue that it was an extremely strong person or maybe more than one person.

''But equally the lack of external injuries suggests that there might be some other factors and that's what we're looking into at the moment,'' Shields added.

UNI