FOR SOME it's called blunders; for others it's plain inconsistencies; but whatever the case may be, the Jamaican police have been unable to escape the ghost of the Bob Woolmer fiasco which has haunted it since the Pakistan cricket coach's untimely death here on March 18.
Now, two months on, it seems to be the case of two steps forward and several backwards. And the way the investigations are going, many have made up their minds which 'truth' to accept - that of the Jamaican police or that of the foreign 'experts'.
It seems, though, that only time will tell whether the truth will emerge as to how Mr. Woolmer died or whether this debacle of an investigation will suffocate or die a natural death.
Beaten by Ireland
Woolmer, 58, was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of the West Indies at 12:14 p.m. on March 18, the day after Pakistan crashed out of the ICC Cricket World Cup after being beaten by minnows Ireland, at Sabina Park.
"When I reached the room, he was lying on the floor, with his mouth wide open and there was blood in the bathroom and there was vomit all over the wall, and there were signs of diarrhoea," Pakistan's media manager P.J. Mir said the day Mr. Woolmer was pronounced dead.
Onthe day Mr. Woolmer died, the Major Investigation Team Task Force was called in to investigate. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mark Shields, a former Scotland Yard expatriate, said that like every sudden death, it was being treated as a murder investigation unless proven otherwise.
A post-mortem conducted by government pathologist Dr. Ere Sheshiah two days later, according to DCP Shields, proved inclusive. He said the police would await toxicology and histology results from Mr. Woolmer's blood and tissue samples to determine cause of death.
Hours later
DCP shields convenes another press conference: "Having met with the pathologist, other medical personnel and investigators, there is now sufficient information to continue a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Woolmer, which we are now treating as suspicious."
Less than 24 hours later
The police High Command said the opinion of a second pathologist was being sought. The police later determined that this was no longer necessary.
March 21 - Gleaner scoop
High-ranking police source privy to the Dr. Sheshiah's findings informed The Gleaner that Mr. Woolmer had been strangled.
"A bone in the neck, near the glands, was broken, and this suggests that somebody might have put some pressure on it,"
Big announcement
Later that evening, Director of Communications, Karl Angell, read a statement on behalf of Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas at the 'mother of all press conferences'.
"The pathologist report states that Mr. Woolmer's death was due to asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation.
"We are confident in the result," DCP Shields said at a later press conference.
After the grand announcement
Coroner's inquest ordered into the death of Mr. Woolmer.
Police maintain they are dealing with a murder investigation.
"We are thorough and methodical in our approach," Mr. Shields says.
Mark Shields, on March 27, said he had sought the help of the Director of Public Prosecutions Kent Pantry,with regard to the investigation.
Pakistan says there is no shred of evidence against Pakistani players and officials.
Scotland Yard detectives joined the probe.
Forensic expert from International Police (Interpol) called in.
CCTV footage sent to the U.K. When it was returned, Mr. Shields said he could identify people on the tapes whom he had interviewed.
DCP Shields consistently maintains that the JCF has extablished a cause of death - asphyxiation through manual strangulation. Anything else would be secondary.
A month after his death
Toxicology report returns from government forensic lab. DCP Shields refuses to comment on the results but says further analysis was needed. A high-ranking police officer said the toxicology report - which was still not available - was very important at that stage.
The coroner's inquest was indefinitely postponed. The police said there were new developments in the case and their investigations would be prejudiced by the inquest.
Bob Woolmer's body, which was ordered to remain in Jamaica, was released by order of Coroner Patrick Murphy. It was returned to South Africa where it was cremated in a private ceremony.
Sources say a foreign substance was found in Woolmer's tissue sample, lending credence to the theory that Mr. Woolmer was poisoned before being strangled.
Pakistan officials, who were in Jamaica helping the local police, left, saying they were pleased with the progress.
Scotland Yard officials - who were earlier invited by the Jamaican police to assist with the investigation - also left. Mr. Shields said they too were pleased.
Bombshell
Pakistan officials, in a 40-page report, said there was no evidence Mr. Woolmer had been murdered.
Scotland Yard detectives, who got their forensic experts to analyse tissue samples, are reported to have said that Mr. Woolmer died of a heart attack. Jamaican police are yet to get an official report from Scotland Yard.
