Suspect in Woolmer murder case identified

The first credible suspect in the murder of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has been identified from hotel security camera footage, a British newspaper has said.

The Independent has reported that the suspect is understood to be male. It quoted Jamaican police and their Scotland Yard helpers to refuse confirmation the suspect is in the Pakistani team or management.

The paper claimed exclusive information that digital enhancement by Scotland Yard of CCTV footage from cameras on the 12th floor of the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, has identified at least one suspect. It quoted a source close to the investigation to say: "The cleaned-up images from London show at least one individual of considerable interest to the inquiry. The time of the footage and its location mean that this individual must be considered a suspect. Further work is being done on statements given by individuals to look at any inconsistencies. It is good progress."

The reported breakthrough comes after three frustrating weeks in which police appeared to make little headway in investigating the British national's murder.

But late on Friday, Jamaican police announced "significant developments" in the hunt Woolmer's killer or killers and the country's Justice Ministry said it had postponed the inquest because of rapid progress in the investigation.

The crucial CCTV footage is understood to have come from cameras at either end of the secure floor of the Pegasus Hotel, where Woolmer was staying.

The new twist to the murder inquiry came amid other British tabloid reportage that Woolmer had been incapacitated by a powerful and rather old-fashioned poison called aconite before being strangled.

Aconite, which is derived from the plant wolfsbane, may have been given to Woolmer in sufficient quantity to kill him outright, according to reports. They said the coach may have subsequently broken a bone in his neck if he fell as he collapsed from the poison.

Aconite, which is used in herbal medicine across South Asia, is said to cause an agonising death as it shuts down internal organs and causes loss of sensation in the limbs. One of the first symptoms is vomiting and the dead Woolmer was found with traces of vomit.