Woolmer may have been victim of hitman, say police

POLICE investigating the murder of Bob Woolmer are not ruling out the possibility he was the victim of a professional hit.

Rumours continue to abound about the circumstances surrounding the Pakistan coach’s death at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica eight days ago.

Much of the speculation centres on whether the 58-year-old’s killer or killers had links to a gambling cartel involved in the fixing of cricket matches.

The man leading the investigation, Deputy Commissioner Mark Shields, yesterday refused to rule out suggestions a hitman may have been responsible.

“I rule absolutely nothing out at all. It’s a possibility,” Shields said.

Shields confirmed the general manager of the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit is investigating any possible links between the murder and match-fixing.

“The match-fixing aspect of this is being carefully handled,” Shields said.

“Jeff Rees from the ICC is here at the moment, from the Anti-Corruption Unit. He’s going to assist us. I promised him a couple of officers to work with him.

“He and his team have the expertise. We have to tap into that to see if there’s anything within their world of corruption that may impact on Bob’s death.”

Shields also believes it is “highly unlikely” the people they are looking for are Jamaican nationals.

Shields is “optimistic” of catching Woolmer’s killers but admitted the crime may take years to solve: “We will get to the bottom of this. That may take two days. It may take two years, I do not know.”

Police are currently studying CCTV footage and electronic keycard and telephone records from the hotel in a bid to identify potential suspects.

Woolmer was murdered the day after Pakistan suffered World Cup elimination at the hands of Ireland, a huge upset that fuelled theories match-fixing may have been involved.

But Pakistan legend Imran Khan today rejected any suggestion the team would have thrown the game.

“I would say the chances of that are definitely zero,” he said.