Cricket Coach Murdered

[DBAHO]

Developing story, and a tragic one at that;

 

PAKISTAN cricket coach Bob Woolmer was strangled to death, police said today.

 

The pathologist report states that Woolmer's died from "asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation", police said.

 

Deputy commissioner Mark Shields said: "Hopefully we will bring the killers to justice as soon as possible.

 

"We will use every energy we possibly have to track down the killers.''

 

The 58-year-old Briton died on Sunday after being found unconscious in his hotel room. The previous day, Pakistan were eliminated from the Cricket World Cup by debutants Ireland.

 

Commissioner Shields said there could be one or more people involved but there was no evidence of forced entry into his hotel room.

 

He appealed for the killer or killers to give themselves up and also asked for witnesses to come forward.

 

He said there was no evidence of any theft and would not be drawn on the motive for the murder.

 

Commissioner Shields also said police had seized all hotel records and security videotapes.

 

"It would take some force, because Bob was a large man," he said.

 

"It would have taken some significant force to subdue him, but of course at this stage we do not know how many people were in the room at the time.

 

"It could be one or more people involved in this murder."

 

Commissioner Shields confirmed Woolmer had shown no signs of life when he was found in his hotel room and said there had been no signs of a struggle.

 

There was reportedly vomit on the walls and some blood on his body.

 

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

 

Pakistan's World Cup players gave statements to Jamaican police before leaving for the resort of Montego Bay.

 

They were to stay there for two days before returning home after their early elimination from the tournament. Team members were furious that they were being cast in some sections of the media as prime suspects in the investigation.

 

“The impression is being given that the Pakistan team are suspects. This is not true,” team manager Talat Ali said.

 

“We are being interviewed first because we are leaving for Montego Bay later this afternoon, but other people will also be interviewed by police.”

 

Team spokesman Pervez Mir had earlier dismissed the suggestions the death was linked to match-fixing as “totally baseless and premature”.

 

However former London Metropolitan Police commissioner Paul Condon, who has been involved with helping the ICC fight corruption within the sport, is standing by and willing to assist with the inquiry.

 

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Malcolm Speed said: “We face shock and outrage and great sadness for Bob's family. There has been speculation that as a result of all this, the World Cup will be discontinued.

 

“That will not be the case. Perhaps it will be a measure of the game and its resolve as to how we can complete this World Cup in view of this shock.”

[knightni]

I feel bad for the man and his family.

 

 

Eurasians have very violent history in sports.

 

It's a shame that someone has to die for people to realize this and decide to change.