THE inquest into the death of Bob Woolmer has heard a maid found the former Kent cricketer's body in a blood-spattered Jamaican hotel room.

Bernice Robinson was the first witness to give evidence about the death of the 58-year-old, who was coach of the Pakistan during the cricket World Cup.

Ms Robinson said she saw a bloody pillow and smelled alcohol and vomit when she entered Mr Woolmer’s room in the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on March 18.

The discovery of Mr Woolmer's body the day after Pakistan were knocked out of the tournament by unfancied Ireland prompted months of speculation that he was strangled because he was about to expose a match-fixing ring.

However, pathologist Nathaniel Cory said there was no evidence to suggest that Mr Woolmer had been throttled.

"If I was asked if there was a violent struggle, I would say 'No'," Dr Cory said.

Subsequent post-mortems have concluded that Mr Woolmer died of natural causes.

The inquest is expected to last well into November.