Pakistani students light candles to pay tribute to Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer in Multan on March 20. Woolmer was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona, St. Andrew, Jamaica, on March 18, after being found unconscious.

The pathologists who reviewed the forensic evidence on the late Bob Woolmer have suggested in their reports that there were a number of shortcomings in the manner in which Government pathologist, Dr. Ere Sheshiah, conducted the autopsy.

The foreign pathologists, upon the request of the Jamaican Government, reviewed videotapes and still images of the autopsy and the scene where the body was found.

There were early reports that the hyoid bone in Mr. Woolmer's neck had been broken and there were also bruises on his neck.

Poor preparation

"The videographic and still digital images of the neck dissection clearly show that much of the 'neck bruising' has been created by dissection of the neck in a dissection field that has not been properly prepared for examination (elevating the shoulder to drain blood from the neck prior to dissection)," Dr. Michael Pollanen, chief forensic pathologist for Ontario, Canada, said in his report.

Dr. Pollanen also noted that Dr. Sheshiah failed to dissect the strap muscles of the neck in layers.

"It is clear from the X-ray that there is no fracture of the hyoid bone. This is a straightforward and non-controversial finding," said Dr. Pollanen.

He also noted that photographs of the hyoid bone showed no evidence of deformity that could be related to fracture.

"It does not appear that the international standard approach to examination of the neck was followed, and it is thus difficult to draw the conclusion of throttling (manual strangulation)," said Professor Lorna Martin, head of the Division of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, in her report.

In his report on the findings of the scene, consultant pathologist Dr. Nat Cary, from the United Kingdom, said the fact that Mr. Woolmer was found in the bathroom such that the door was unable to open, suggests that it would be difficult to explain whether a third party was involved in the deceased's final collapse.

"In my opinion, all the findings at the scene would be consistent with someone suffering an acute medical event characterised, among other things, by vomiting. I see nothing to indicate that this has been the scene of a violent attack where considerable disruption of furniture and/or artefacts might be anticipated, unless the person under attack was heavily sedated," said Dr. Cary.

Woolmer dances as he arrives at the team's hotel, in Montego Bay, St. James, on the eve of the opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup. - Dellmar photo

Pakistan's bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed cuts a forlorn figure outside the Pegasus hotel, on Sunday, March 18, hours after news was released that coach Woolmer was dead. - file photos

Members of the West Indies and Zimbabwe teams pay tribute to Woolmer before the start of their first-round Group D Cricket World Cup match at Sabina Park, Kingston, on Monday, March 19.