Cricket World Cup: Woolmer's Killer May Have Used Towel

Bob Woolmer's killer or killers may have used a length of fabric to strangle the Pakistan cricket coach, police in Jamaica said yesterday. The absence of weals around his throat indicated he was throttled with a towel or a piece of cloth rather than bare hands. "There are no physical marks on the neck of the victim, therefore there may have been something between the hands of the assailant and the victim," said Mark Shields, Jamaica's deputy police commissioner.

He confirmed that towels had been found in the 12th floor hotel room where Mr Woolmer's body was discovered on March 18, a day after Pakistan lost to Ireland and were ousted from the World Cup.

A Jamaican government pathologist, Ere Seshaiah, concluded that the 58-year-old former England batsman died from asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation. Asked if a towel was now considered the murder weapon, Mr Shields said a Jamaican criminal would have been more likely to use a gun or a knife, suggesting a foreigner was responsible.

Mr Woolmer, who was found naked and unconscious the morning after he went to his room for the night, was taken to hospital and pronounced dead shortly after midday. His bathroom was covered in blood and vomit.

Detectives who returned to the crime scene on Wednesday were believed to have been escorting the chambermaid who raised the alarm to help her recollection of potentially crucial details.

A police report has been sent to the Kingston coroner, Patrick Murphy. At the request of police he will carry out his own inquiry while detectives continue their investigation. Investigators are awaiting the results of toxicology and blood tests which should pinpoint the time of death. Once that is established they will be able to narrow their study of CCTV footage of the entrance to the elevator and corridor on the 12th floor.

There is speculation that Mr Woolmer was the victim of an enraged fan, a match-fixing conspiracy or a row with Pakistan players or officials.

Unnamed British and Pakistan cricket officials have floated the idea that the pathologist erred and that Mr Woolmer was not the victim of foul play.

Mr Shields said he would keep an open mind but that for now the science pointed to murder. "I'm pretty confident based on the information that is in front of me, but nothing in this line of work is 100%."