AN inquest into the death of a former Scottish SAS officer in Zimbabwe has heard that there was blood on the man's groin when police officers arrived on the scene.

Robert Alexander Wood, 54, was found hanging from a barred window in his home in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in 2012, by his girlfriend, Henrietta Dube.

Mr Wood, who managed a gold mine he owned shares in, was originally said to have committed suicide but a fresh probe is under way after a UK coroner said that his death was "very suspicious".

Willard Gwimba, a police officer who was called to the house, said that he alerted his local Criminal Investigation Department after noticing the blood on Mr Wood. He told the inquest it was normal to find spot blood in that area in suicide cases. Mr Gwimba, who is stationed at Hillside police station, said he was on duty when the case was reported and went to Mr Wood's home on the morning of March 9 last year. He found gardener Blessed Sibanda and the Scot's girlfriend at the scene.

Mr Sibanda, who was employed by the couple's landlord, also gave evidence at the inquest, which is in its second day. He said on the eve of Mr Wood's death, the couple did not spend time at home and he heard them coming back after midnight but did not wake up to check on them.