Woolmer was poisoned then strangled, BBC claims

PAKISTAN cricket coach Bob Woolmer was poisoned before being strangled, apparently rendering him unable to fight back, a BBC programme says today.

Preliminary tests revealed a drug in Woolmer’s system that would have incapacitated him, according to Panorama. Programme makers said it seems certain that as 6ft 2ins Woolmer was strangled, he had already been rendered helpless, explaining how he could have been overpowered.

Final toxicology results are to be handed back to Jamaican police next week, but are expected to confirm the preliminary findings, the programme said.

Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in the Pakistan team’s hotel in March, a day after his side’s humiliating loss to Ireland which knocked them out of the cricket World Cup.

The BBC1 show said investigating officer Mark Shields felt it would be difficult to strangle a man of Woolmer’s size: “A lot of force would be needed to do that. Bob Woolmer was a large man and that’s why one could argue that it was an extremely strong person, or may be more than one person, but equally the lack of external injuries suggests there might be some other factors and that’s what we’re looking into.”

The Panorama shows airs on BBC1 at 8.30pm.