Seshaiah's technique 'not up to international standards': Martin

Jamaica, Oct 24 (UNI) Testifying before the coroner's inquest, South African professor Lorna Martin has pointed out serious flaws in the autopsy procedure conducted by the government pathologist Dr Ere Seshaiah on former Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.

The state pathologist for Western Cape in South Africa, told the coroner's inquest into Woolmer's death that Dr Seshaiah's technique was 'not up to international standards'.

Martin became the third pathologist, along with Nathaniel Cary and Michael Pollanen, to rule out death by manual strangulation.

''It doesn't appear that the international practice was followed in the examination of the neck,'' Martin said.

The professor said that the 58-year-old former England player died from natural causes. Martin testified that Woolmer's diabetic condition, his suspected heart condition and Pakistan's shocking loss to rank outsiders Ireland in the league phase of the tournament, which led to their ouster from the World Cup, most likely contributed to his death.

''My speculation is that at some point in the evening Mr Woolmer got out of bed to vomit, knocked over a chair, and went to the bathroom where he carried on vomiting. This possibly influenced his cardiac event,'' Professor Martin was quoted by 'Jamaica Gleaner'.

Professor Martin's expertise was sought by Jamaican police in May, one month after Dr Seshaiah's revelation that Woolmer died from asphyxia, caused by manual strangulation, in his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room on March 18, 2007, at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, here. Following his death, many theories were spewed up by rumour mongers.

In June, Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas said Dr Seshaiah had erred and gave 'natural causes' as Woolmer's official cause of death.

Florette Skyers, a radiographer at the Kingston Public Hospital, also testified on the sixth day of the inquest. The inquest is expected to end on November 9.

UNI