Woolmer's widow says murder a 'possibility' by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 22nd March 2007

 

The widow of the late Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer on Thursday said there was a "possibility" her husband was murdered.

 

In an interview with Britain's Sky News television from her home in South Africa, Gill Woolmer was asked about claims her husband was murdered after he was found unconscious in a hotel room in Jamaica and later died in hospital.

 

"I suppose there is always the possibility," she said, apparently contradicting statements she made to Indian television late Wednesday in which she dismissed the possibility of a conspiracy or a match-fixing link.

 

"I mean some of the cricketing fraternity, fans are extremely volatile and passionate about the game and what happens in the game, and also a lot of it in Asia, so I suppose there is always the possibility that it could be that."

 

She added: "It fills me with horror, I just can't believe that people could behave like that or that anyone would want to harm someone who has done such a great service to international cricket."

 

Police in Jamaica have said they are treating 58-year-old Woolmer's death on Sunday -- which came after Pakistan's shock exit from the World Cup following a defeat to minnows Ireland -- as "suspicious".

 

In the following days, there have been claims the former England international may have been killed by "match-fixing mafia".

 

Asked about the police terminology, Gill Woolmer said: "I don't really know, it does suggest that there might be foul play, but they obviously don't want to jump to conclusions and want to make sure that they're able to make the right decision after they have completed the tests."

 

She added: "The latest that we heard last night (Wednesday), was that the police are obviously going on with their investigation and they had a second pathologist coming in to give their second opinion and they are hoping that the results will be available today."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)