Pollanen testifies toxin detected in Woolmer's body

Michael Pollanen, the Canadian pathologist who in June had concurred with a finding by a British forensics expert that Bob Woolmer died of natural causes, has told the inquest that he was aware that a toxin had been detected in Woolmer's body.

When Pollanen was asked by Kent Pantry, the director of public prosecutions, during cross examination, whether he was informed that poison had been found in Woolmer's stomach, Pollanen replied: "No, I am aware that there is a positive toxicological finding, but I am not aware of the details. A foreign substance or toxin was detected."

Earlier British pathologist Nathaniel Cary had testified that he could not conclusively state the cause of death.

However Pollanen said on Monday that strangulation was unlikely to have caused Woolmer's death. "If the hyoid bone [in the neck] was broken, it would be a good evidence of injury to the neck," he said. "It was not broken in this case.''

Pollanen was then asked if he was aware of a substance called cypermethrin. He replied that it was an insecticide and though he couldn't state the symptoms cypermethrin would induce in a person, he said "it could weaken the body movement."