Shields now throws in a towel

The tabloid quoted Deputy Commissioner in Jamaica Police Mark Shields saying that it was 8220;common sense8221; that something was used to prevent the throat being marked. 8220;If it is some form of manual strangulation and there are no physical marks, there may have been something between the hands of the assailant and the neck. That8217;s as far as I will go,8221; Shields said.

He also confirmed that towels were found in the room. The fact that the killer wanted not to leave any mark suggests it was a well-planned murder.

Shields reiterated that it was a murder case but added that he 8220;had to keep an open mind8221; and 8220;had to be led by the scientists8221;.

Forensic pathologist Ere Seshaiah, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, said in his report that Woolmer had died of 8220;asphyxia caused by manual strangulation8221;.

Shields said the chambermaid who discovered Woolmer8217;s naked body in a pool of his own vomit at Kingston8217;s Pegasus hotel was traumatised. The report claimed she was taken back to room 374 where Woolmer was murdered.

Police were also probing reports about a match-fixer 8212;linked to Dawood Ibrahim 8212;who reportedly was thrown out of Woolmer8217;s room after a spat with the coach.