FITZMORE Coates, acting chief forensic officer at the Government Forensic Science Laboratory, yesterday told the coroner's inquest into the death of Bob Woolmer that there was enough cypermethrin in the stomach contents of the Pakistan coach to kill him.

Questioned by Director of Public Prosecutions, Kent Pantry, Coates said he found 3.4 milligrams per millilitre of the pesticide in Woolmer's stomach content, during a test he conducted at the government laboratory on October 28.

Level can be lethal

He said that such a level can be lethal if ingested by a human being.

"The final calculation of cypermethrin in stomach content which I analysed would be significant. It could cause vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and death," Coates said.

In his testimony, government pathologist Dr. Ere Seshaiah said Woolmer died from asphyxia caused by manual strangulation associated with cypermethrin poisoning.

Coates also testified that he found cypermethrin in samples of blood and urine taken from Woolmer. He said the substance was also seen in a straw-coloured liquid taken from his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

In his November 1 testimony, British forensic scientist John Slaughter said he did not analyse Woolmer's urine samples at the Forensic Science Service in London. He said at least four medical journals said it was impossible to find the substance in urine.

Coates disagreed, referring to the 1999 edition of the medical journal, Analytica Chimica Acta, to back up his point.

Challenged this theory

But Jermaine Spence, the attorney representing the International Cricket Council, challenged this theory. He said the article Coates pointed to supported Slaughter's theory, which Coates seemed to agree reluctantly.

Coates resumes his testimony today at the Jamaica Conference Centre.

Yesterday, Sharon Brydson, his colleague at the Government Forensic Science Laboratory, concluded her testimony.

Bob Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in the bathroom of his suite at the Jamaica Pegasus on March 18, one day after Pakistan was eliminated from the Cricket World Cup by Ireland.

He was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of the West Indies that day.