Media facing Woolmer questions

It is not just the police who have questions to answer following the U-turn over Bob Woolmer's death at the World Cup.

So do the media, which swallowed - and regurgitated - every sensational "revelation" surrounding this most remarkable of stories.

More crucially in the internet age, newspapers and broadcasters must decide how to handle all the archive material on their websites that is now incorrect.

In April, the story was unequivocal: "Murder At The World Cup". You can still see it here on the BBC website - and many others too.

Media 'revelations'

Not only had Bob Woolmer been strangled, as the Jamaican police had announced.

He had also been poisoned - and this explained how someone had been able to overpower a man who was 6ft 2in tall and heavily built.

This was the headline "revelation" in the BBC's flagship current affairs programme Panorama.

It was widely reported in national newspapers and on websites, which themselves had had a field day with this most sensational of stories.

I think that if we had kept quiet and not made frequent announcements, we might quite rightly have been criticised for not sharing sufficient information and maybe even of a cover-up.
Mark Shields Jamaican Deputy Police Commissioner

In a news release, Panorama's programme-makers trumpeted the importance of their finding: "The specific details of that poison are now very likely to offer a significant lead to finding his murderer."

Were they and the other media too keen to follow the sensational angle? Should they have been more sceptical? Or, faced with a charismatic, confident and media-savvy investigating officer, were they simply reporting the police investigation as it proceeded?

The Jamaican Police Deputy Commissioner, Mark Shields, was the key figure at all the news conferences and he was the man who showed Panorama's reporter round the 12th floor of the hotel for its exclusive report.

'Diligent' investigation

Shields' constant media appearances fanned the flames, says the BBC's sports editor Mihir Bose. But at a news conference following the public U-turn, Mr Shields dismissed suggestions that officers had mishandled the investigation by giving so many interviews.

Mr Shields said: "I think that if we had kept quiet and not made frequent announcements, we might quite rightly have been criticised for not sharing sufficient information and maybe even of a cover-up.

"The fact is that we took the decision to share as much information as we possibly could, without derailing the investigation, while at the same time continuing to conduct a thorough and diligent investigation."

For its part, the BBC says the Panorama programme was a fair representation of the investigation as it stood at that stage and that, like all news organisations, it will be following the latest developments closely.
The news report is still there on the Panorama website, though you will not find that edition of the programme on the archive page.

It says it will be interviewing Mr Shields - as have other BBC News outlets - and broadcasting an update in its round-up programme 'Panorama: What Happened Next?' Is that enough?

When people delve back into the BBC website in years to come, will they always find the "Latest News" link, next to the old 'murder mystery' stories, pointing out that Woolmer 'was not murdered' and 'died of natural causes' after all?

Or should there be a clearer 'health warning' - particularly on the BBC Press Office site, where the original news release stands?

In the internet age, such about-turns are no longer so easily forgotten.

Woolmer case is closed - Pakistan

Pakistan's cricket chief says it is time for the national team to move on after it was revealed that coach Bob Woolmer was not murdered.

Jamaican police announced on Tuesday that Woolmer died of natural causes.

Ex-skipper Imran Khan and Test batsman Mohammad Yousuf have said the Pakistan Cricket Board should sue over the way the investigation was handled.

But chairman Nasim Ashraf said: "The chapter of Woolmer's death is closed and we feel it's time to move on."

Ashraf, who resigned after Pakistan's World Cup exit but was asked to stay on by President Pervez Musharraf, appeared to rule out taking any legal action.

"I have given you Pakistan's stance and I don't want to comment on what individuals say," he said.

In a statement on Tuesday the PCB expressed "great satisfaction over the fact that the truth has finally come out" after months of speculation over Woolmer's death, which occurred following Pakistan's shock World Cup defeat by Ireland in Kingston.

It added: "The PCB showed utmost patience throughout the investigations and provided all help needed to complete the procedure with only one objective in mind - bringing the truth to light.

"We fully respect the final verdict issued by the Jamaican Police.

"The board understands that during the past three months of investigations, certain irresponsible and hypothetical statements were made, not just in Jamaica but on the international scene as well.

"This was very traumatic not only to the Woolmer family but also to the entire Pakistan nation."

Jamaican police defended their handling of the case, which appeared at first to cast suspicion on members of the Pakistan team by delaying their departure after the final World Cup game against Zimbabwe.

"This was an extraordinary case," said deputy commissioner Mark Shields.

"Murder investigations are not like TV series, where everything is wrapped up in 45 minutes. All we could do was conduct a thorough investigation and not rush."

Woolmer 'died of natural causes'

Jamaican police have confirmed that Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes and was not murdered, as they stated earlier.

Mr Woolmer, 58, died after being found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on 18 March, following his team's loss to Ireland in the cricket World Cup.

An initial pathologist's report concluded that he had been strangled.

Every member of the Pakistan team was fingerprinted before returning home, sparking anger among many in Pakistan.

'No poison'

Jamaican Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas told a news conference in Kingston that three expert opinions had concluded that the original pathologist report of death by manual asphyxiation was wrong.

We got [the bone] x-rayed and the fact is that the bone wasn't broken in the first place
Mark Shields,
deputy police commissioner

Mr Thomas also said that toxicology tests had now been received and that they showed there was no substance to indicate poisoning.

"The police have now closed the investigation into the death of Bob Woolmer," he said.

Mr Thomas launched a strong defence of the police investigation, saying it had been commended by both Scotland Yard and Pakistani police who had helped with the case.

The original pathologist's report had said a specific bone - the hyoid - was fractured.

But deputy police commissioner Mark Shields told the BBC a later x-ray showed the bone was not broken.

"I instructed my team... to go back and actually retrieve it from his body... We got it x-rayed and the fact is that the bone wasn't broken in the first place," he said.

Mr Woolmer's widow, Gill, welcomed the latest news, saying: "My sons and I are relieved to be officially informed that Bob died of natural causes and that no foul play is suspected in his death."

'Terrible days'

Mr Woolmer's death sparked speculation he had been murdered by an angry fan or by an illegal betting syndicate. There was also speculation members of the Pakistan team may have been involved.

They should have first ruled out natural causes before this whole drama about the murder
Imran Khan

Mr Thomas said the Jamaica Constabulary Force had found no evidence "of any impropriety by players, match officials nor management".

He said the force had carried out its investigation thoroughly and with respect to the Pakistan cricket team.

But Pakistan's former captain Imran Khan said he was shocked there was no apology to the national side.

He said Pakistan's cricket board should sue those responsible for the "humiliation that the Pakistan team went through".

"Bob Woolmer had diabetes, he had blood pressure, an enlarged heart, he had respiratory problems. On top of it, the depression of losing and then he drank a bottle of champagne. They should have first ruled out natural causes before this whole drama about the murder," Imran Khan said.

But Inzamam-ul-Haq, captain during the World Cup, said that although the days after Mr Woolmer's death were "the most terrible of our lives", legal action now would serve no purpose.

The Pakistan Cricket Board made no mention of legal action in its statement, saying only that it felt "great satisfaction over the fact that the truth has finally come out".

The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Kingston says this is an embarrassing U-turn for the Jamaican police.

He says the news conference was an attempt to shift the blame for the errors in the case onto the report of the original pathologist, Dr Ere Sheshiah.

Coach Woolmer 'was not murdered'

Scotland Yard detectives have told Jamaican police that former Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer was not murdered, the BBC understands.

The apparent verdict follows work by a UK Home Office pathologist, who flew to Jamaica to probe Mr Woolmer's death.

Bob Woolmer's widow Gill said she had heard nothing new from the Jamaican police about her husband's death.

Mr Woolmer was found dead in his hotel in Jamaica on 18 March after Pakistan's first-round exit from the World Cup.

Days later Mark Shields, Jamaica's deputy police commissioner, announced at a news conference that the 58-year-old former England Test cricketer had been murdered.

But a UK newspaper has now reported that Jamaican police are to announce that Mr Woolmer died of natural causes.

According to the Daily Mail, police in Kingston now believe Mr Woolmer died of natural causes, brought on by chronic ill-health and possibly diabetes.

'Bollywood investigation'

The apparent about-face drew some sharp criticism of the Jamaican police investigation.

"I think they [the Jamaican police] made a mess of it to be very honest"
Asif Iqbal

PJ Mir, Pakistan's media manager during the World Cup, said he was "saddened" at the news and suggested that Pakistani cricket authorities should consider legal action.

"I've been saying all along that Bob had died a natural death and let's not jump the gun, let's wait," he told the BBC.

"Today the Pakistan team players will be absolutely angry, because the amount of allegations that were levelled against them, or insinuations, or speculations against the Pakistan team."

Every member of the Pakistan team was interviewed and fingerprinted before returning home from the Caribbean, although police stressed at the time that they were not treated as suspects.

Former Pakistan player Asif Iqbal told the BBC that Jamaican police carried out a "Bollywood kind of investigation".

"Every day there were different stories in the newspaper, every day there was a different way of his being murdered. I think they made a mess of it to be very honest."

There has been no confirmation of the Daily Mail report.

A spokesman for the Jamaican police, Carl Angel, has said they are awaiting an official report from the Scotland Yard review team and will not be saying anything further until this arrives.

Scotland Yard have not given them a time frame for the arrival of the report, he said.

In May, several other reports suggested Mr Woolmer was not murdered, often citing sources close to the investigation.

One member of Jamaica's Labour Party said the case had become a "global embarrassment" for the country's police force.

Hats off to Bob!

I never knew how dedicated Bob was to Pakistan cricket. But i surely was the one who always has great respect for him and always used to deny the allegations posed by Imran khan,Javed Miandad,Amir sohail and other Pakistani ex-cricketers.I used to get really frustrated when i saw these people never slip a chance to speak against him.Bob never used to directly reply to there allegations but now the world knows that he was the most devoted and hardworking person Pakistan cricket has ever seen.
Bob's death came as a real surprise to me and i am really saddened with this.I can't even imagine of loosing him in a single day.He was really sad and frustrated while Pakistan was being killed by a bunch of Irish part-times.He used to take Pakistani team as his family and his situation was very obvious.I saw his interview once on Geo news.He was asked that do you miss your family?and the answer was that he takes Pakistani team as his family becuase most of the boys in Pakistan team are of same age as his children. And his death really proved how devoted he was!
He did everything for Pakistan team although it didn't came out well in this Cricket Worldcup'07 but that was none of his fault in my opinion.He can just give them advice and training but can't obviously guarantee results.Instead it was those 11 players in the ground who didn't perform as per expectations.
I am of the fact that Pakistan management should really think of paying him a great tribute rather than just statements for his devotion,commitment and personal attachment with Pakistan cricket. And of the best that I got for this was that Pakistan should name a cricket Ground on his name.Whether they should rename any already built ground or they should build a new ground on his name.I got this brilliant idea from Craizi3 ku®®i (A) in an orkut community.What do you people think of this Idea?If you agree with me,you can post your comments here.Another favour that i want from you people is that you should mail this idea to these e-mail Ids.
sikbak@industv.net
bolain@geo.tv
score@geo.tv
These are the Id's of Geo Tv and Indus Tv.We can get this happen as early as many emails we'll write so that this thing should be covered by media and PCB and Gen.Pervez musharraf may take the action suggested.
I am sincerely waiting for your comments and Ideas!
Thanks Woolmer-for your commitment and Love,We'll always remember you!

Woolmer seeks to use SA knowledge

JOHANNESBURG: Former South Africa coach Bob Woolmer will seek to put his knowledge of local players and conditions to good use on Pakistan’s tour of South Africa which starts on Wednesday. Woolmer, who has coached Pakistan since 2004, was coach of South Africa between 1994 and 1999 and still has a home in Cape Town, where he has been on holiday prior to joining up with his new charges. Pakistan have moved up to third place in both the Test and one-day rankings since Woolmer took over and have a solid recent record. Since being beaten 3-0 by Australia in the 2004/05 season, soon after Woolmer’s appointment, they have lost only Test series, in England last year, and have defeated England at home, India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.