Match-fixing ghost is back

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas said in a statement late Thursday that a pathologist report found Woolmer8217;s death was due to 8220;asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation.8221; Police launched a homicide investigation and were reviewing security cameras at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel and urging witnesses to come forward.

8220;It is our belief that those associated with or having access with Mr. Woolmer may have vital information to assist this inquiry,8221; Thomas said in the statement. There was no evidence of forced entry, police said.

Mark Shields, the deputy police commissioner, said police were investigating if more than one person could have been involved. 8220;Because Bob was a large man, it would have taken some significant force to subdue him, but, of course, at this stage we do not know how many people were in the room,8221; he told a news conference Thursday night. 8220;It could be one or more people involved in this murder.8221;

8220;After a thorough investigation, fingerprints not belonging to Mr. Woolmer were found in the room,8221; Shields told AP. Shields said Woolmer had shown no signs of life when he was found in his hotel room.

The strangulation theory, however, does not explain the vomit with traces of blood found around Woolmer8217;s body and the walls. Sky Sports News, a television channel, reported that Woolmer had broken a bone in his throat after falling against the toilet bowl while vomiting in his hotel room. And Shields said at the press conference that there had been no signs of a struggle in the room.

Dr Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chief who resigned, told Pakistani television channels that the Pakistan team members had been questioned by Jamaican police as part of a routine investigation.

8220;The police are questioning everyone in the hotel in the case. Even West Indian captain Brian Lara and official Clive Lloyd have given their statements,8221; Ashraf said.

Pakistan8217;s cricketers and team officials will be swabbed for DNA on Friday by police as a routine exercise, Reuters reported. The squad was finger-printed on Thursday at the Kingston Pegasus hotel. They were supposed to undergo DNA tests on the same day but police allowed them to catch a flight to Montego Bay.

8220;It8217;s one of those routine things they do, at least here in Jamaica as far as I8217;m informed,8221; Pakistan media manager Pervez Mir told Reuters. 8220;It8217;s some sort of a swab that they put in your mouth and then put it in a plastic container. It takes about 25 seconds.8221;

Also Friday, Pakistan8217;s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said that one of its diplomats from Washington had been dispatched to Jamaica. Pakistan has no diplomatic presence in Jamaica, and Aslam said a diplomat assigned by the ministry will interact with the authorities in Jamaica over the issue of Woolmer8217;s death.

The team had gone to Montego Bay, a lavish holiday resort, after accepting an offer by the Jamaican Prime Minister who wanted the players to relax from the tragedy of Woolmer8217;s death. Pakistan8217;s team manager Talat Ali sought to scotch speculation that his players were a 8220;suspect8221; in the sensational murder.

8220;The impression created is that the Pakistan team is the suspect because the players have been interviewed, that is not correct,8221; Ali told reporters.

Murder, mystery

8226; Police say Woolmer was strangled, someone else8217;s fingerprints found

8226; Pak team to give DNA samples

8226; Cops say friendly entry, may be more than one assailant.

HOLES IN POLICE THEORY

8226; Police say there are no signs of struggle

8226; Vomit not explained

8226;a TV channel says neck bones broke due to fall on toilet bowl when he tried to vomit