CAPETOWN, May 18: A week of interviews in South Africa with Bob Woolmer's friends and family has convinced top Jamaican cop Mark Shields that Pakistani cricket coach had no enemies who would want to kill him.

“I get the impression that Woolmer didn't have enemies,” deputy commissioner said on before departure after six days in Cape Town.

“Woolmer was a thoroughly professional and likeable individual, and I've not found anyone who would say a bad word about him or stab him in the back. It's difficult establishing why anyone would want to harm a well-loved person like Bob.”

Nevertheless, he is still treating Woolmer's death as a murder investigation where chief suspect was someone known to Woolmer who had strangled him to death.

Clarifying confusion Shields said: “I have been presented with facts from a pathologist which say manual strangulation and asphyxiation, therefore I'm obliged to conduct an investigation around that.

“At the same time I am keeping an open mind. Nothing is written in stone until we get to the bottom of investigation.”

Shields refused to say who he had interviewed during his South African visit, but confirmed he had met two of Woolmer's closest friends, University of Cape Town sports scientist Professor Tim Noakes and Wynberg Boys High School headmaster Keith Richardson.

He said he now knew a lot more about his murder victim. “I now know a lot more about Woolmer and that's important. Understanding victim helps us make progress. We've had no revelations or breakthroughs. But investigation is going forward. By coming to South Africa we've completed some critical tasks.”

The primary reason for his visit, was to make personal contact with Gill Woolmer whom he described as a “remarkable woman” because “she's dealt with tragic circumstances so well despite fact that media has had field day”.

“Gill wants a thorough professional investigation that finds the truth no matter how long it takes.”—Agencies