An inquest into the death of murdered Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has been postponed indefinitely because of "recent and significant developments" in the case, the Jamaican government said yesterday.

A statement from Jamaica’s Justice Ministry did not give details on the developments that led to the postponing of the coroner’s inquest, which had been scheduled to begin on Monday in the capital Kingston.

"The coroner has been advised ... there are recent and significant developments concerning the death of Mr Robert Woolmer," the ministry announced.

"These new developments are critical to the progress and the eventual result of the investigation."

Officials will decide whether to hold the inquest after investigating the new developments, the statement said, raising the possibility the proceeding might not happen.

The postponement comes days after police announced they had received results of toxicology tests but decided not to release the results pending further analysis.

Former Warwickshire coach Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room on March 18 and pronounced dead at a hospital the morning after his powerhouse Pakistani squad suffered a shock defeat by Ireland during the cricket World Cup.

A pathologist who conducted Woolmer’s autopsy initially ruled the cause of his death was inconclusive, but four days later determined he had been strangled.