Woolmer’s inquest concludes

KINGSTON – A coroner’s inquest into the death of cricket coach Bob Woolmer ended Wednesday after hearing testimony from more than 50 people over five weeks.

The 11-member jury is expected to determine today whether anyone bears responsibility for the death of the 58-year-old coach, who was found unconscious in his hotel room March 18, a day after his heavily favoured Pakistan side was ousted from the Cricket World Cup. Police said it would be up to Jamaica’s coroner, Patrick Murphy, to issue the official cause of death after the jury’s verdict is announced.Days after Woolmer died at a hospital, Jamaica’s pathologist, Dr Ere Sheshiah, ruled he had been strangled, launching a globe-spanning homicide probe.In an embarrassing reversal, Jamaican police announced nearly three months after launching the murder investigation that Woolmer was not the victim of foul play.During testimony early in the inquest, Sheshiah said Woolmer died of pesticide poisoning and asphyxia, but several foreign experts concluded the late coach died from natural causes, most likely heart disease.Nampa-APPolice said it would be up to Jamaica’s coroner, Patrick Murphy, to issue the official cause of death after the jury’s verdict is announced.Days after Woolmer died at a hospital, Jamaica’s pathologist, Dr Ere Sheshiah, ruled he had been strangled, launching a globe-spanning homicide probe.In an embarrassing reversal, Jamaican police announced nearly three months after launching the murder investigation that Woolmer was not the victim of foul play.During testimony early in the inquest, Sheshiah said Woolmer died of pesticide poisoning and asphyxia, but several foreign experts concluded the late coach died from natural causes, most likely heart disease.Nampa-AP