Woolmer

Some closure is now expected in the Bob Woolmer case with the coroner's inquest into his death scheduled to get under way today at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

The inquest, which is expected to end on November 9, will be presided over by Coroner Patrick Murphy. This is a second attempt at an inquest after the first, which was scheduled to be held on April 23, was postponed.

Over the period of the inquest more than 50 persons, including the top investigators in the case, as well as government pathologist, Ere Sheshiah are expected to testify. It is not certain whether any member of Mr. Woolmer's family will be present.

Much international glare

The Bob Woolmer case has brought much international glare upon, speculation about, and at times, ridicule of Jamaica and its justice system. After his death was declared a murder initially, it was confirmed that Mr. Woolmer died of complications from heart failure.

The now infamous series of events began on March 18 when Mr. Woolmer, then coach of the Pakistan cricket team, was found unconscious in his hotel room at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel. He died hours after his team had crashed out of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

A post-mortem conducted by government pathologist, Dr. Ere Sheshiah, two days later, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mark Shields, proved inclusive. Hours later, however, DCP Shields called a press conference where he stated that Mr. Woolmer's death was being treated as suspicious. On March 21, a statement from Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas said, "The pathologist report states that Mr. Woolmer's death was due to asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation."

However, three months later, on June 12, the Police High Command led by Mr. Thomas said the Jamaica Constabulary Force "Were too hasty", in their conclusions and confirmed Gleaner reports that they had botched the case.

In the meantime, Minister of National Security Derrick Smith told The Gleaner yesterday that he would be looking at the Forte report, which looked at the Woolmer case, this week.

Justice Ian Forte, a former High Court judge, headed a commission that was mandated by former National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips to review the Woolmer case and give a report as to what went wrong during the police investigation. Justice Forte submitted the report to the ministry exactly three weeks after initially missing the July 31 deadline.