An inquest into the death of a wealthy US businessman was today adjourned at Magistrates' Court until the start of May.

Coroner Juan Wolfe agreed to a request from Dimitri Pappas' father to allow him more time to line up leading medical professionals to give evidence at the inquiry into how his son died in Bermuda more than 18 months ago.

It is understood the family believed they had not had enough notice about the hearing to gather their team, which will include American Dr. Michael Baden, regarded by many as the world?s leading forensic pathologist.

Mr. Pappas, 37, an American based in the Caymans, was found hanging in a closet at the Brightside Apartments, in Flatts, on June 20, 2005.

At the time, Police said a pathology report did not indicate foul play, but Mr. Pappas? family, who have been doing their own research, insist he was murdered. Yesterday, on the eve of the inquest, Mr. Pappas Sr. said the family had ?new information? on the case and repeated his belief his son did not take his own life. ?He certainly did not commit suicide,? he said.

Police said yesterday the inquest will begin today as planned, and that the Coroner would listen to any requests for an adjournment from the family. Mr. Pappas said he had spoken to officers recently and understood the call for a delay would be accepted.

The family claim Mr. Pappas Jr. ? who worked around the world as a consultant in the realm of finance and accounting ? had been in good spirits before his death.

They allege that, at almost six foot, he could not have hanged himself in a closet shorter than he was. Further, they point out he had a broken arm, making it impossible to imagine how he tied himself to a clothes bar.

Mr. Pappas Sr. says he has compiled a dossier of information relating to his son?s death.

He said yesterday: ?We have got some other information, but I can?t say what that is at the moment, ahead of the inquest.

?I have spoken to the Police and they seemed positive when I said I wanted to delay the inquest.?

Mr. Pappas had planned to travel to the hearing from his home in Solomans, Maryland, but yesterday he said that was now unlikely.

The victim?s mother, Sue Kongsli, has reportedly complained the family has not been given enough notice to prepare themselves for the inquest.

?We need to get all the persons we need in place,? she told the Cayman Net News on-line newspaper.

?If Bermuda has nothing to hide, they would have no problem allowing us to have these persons present.

?What we need is time for our professionals to adjust their schedules to be present when Bermuda Police?s findings are announced.?

Mrs. Kongsli, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, has been expected to fly to Bermuda for the hearing from her home in Knoxville, Tennessee.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said yesterday: ?The hearing will begin at court at 9.30 a.m. and any decision over an adjournment will then be made at that hearing.?

Earlier this month, reported how Mr. Pappas Sr. had a number of accounting relationships with high-placed people.

Mr. Pappas said his son could have been murdered because he ?knew too much?.

He described the investigation in Bermuda as ?flaky?, saying there had been four or five investigating officers and at least three changes in coroner.

The inquest is set to receive international attention as the case has been followed with interest by news organisations in both the Caymans and the US.