Woolmer's inquest to start on April 23

By Horace Helps

KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters) - A coroner's inquest into the death of former Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer will be held in the Jamaican capital Kingston on April 23, officials told Reuters.

Coroner for Kingston, Patrick Murphy, confirmed here late on Wednesday that he had set the date for the start of the inquest in which more than 20 are slated to testify.

Information from Murphy's office said that 22 people had already been contacted to attend sittings and summonses were being prepared. Officials said that the inquest could last up to a month.

Woolmer, 58, was found apparently lifeless in his Kingston hotel room on March 18. He was pronounced dead later at hospital.

SHOCK DEFEAT

Police said that Woolmer died of strangulation and the coroner said that an inquest had to be held before the body could be turned over to the family in South Africa.

The coach died one day after his Pakistan team were eliminated from the World Cup in a shock defeat to debutants Ireland. His death cast a pall on the entire tournament.

The inquest will be held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, an elaborate building in the Jamaica capital that houses local and international meetings.