BOSTON - The death of Daniel Kerrigan, father of two-time Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, was ruled a homicide on Tuesday, a finding the family quickly disputed.

The ruling of homicide by a state medical examiner could see new charges against Nancy Kerrigan's brother, Mark, who has already pleaded not guilty to assault and battery on an elderly person.

Mark Kerrigan, 45, is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation in the wake of the death of his 70-year-old father on January 24 after what authorities said was a struggle with his son.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said on Tuesday that an autopsy showed the cause of death was "cardiac dysrhythmia" after a physical altercation with neck compression that damaged Kerrigan's windpipe.
The autopsy also showed that Daniel Kerrigan had high blood pressure and clogged heart arteries.

Kerrigan's family issued a statement later on Tuesday through their lawyer, Tracey Miner, calling the autopsy findings "premature and inaccurate."

"The Kerrigan family is extremely disappointed that the medical examiner would release a cause of death without having all of the relevant facts," Miner said in the statement.

"The Kerrigan family does not blame anyone for the unfortunate death of Dan Kerrigan, who had a pre-existing heart condition."

Police, who responded to a 911 emergency call and found Daniel Kerrigan unconscious on the floor of the family home then found Mark Kerrigan in the basement.

Police said Mark Kerrigan told them he struggled with his father and put his hands around his father's neck after not being allowed to use the telephone.

Nancy Kerrigan won a silver medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics after a sordid scandal involving US rival Tonya Harding and took a bronze at the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics.

Kerrigan also won the 1993 US crown.

In 1994, Kerrigan was clubbed in the right knee by an attacker after a practice session at the U.S. championships.

Associates of Harding were found to have carried out the attack and Harding was banned from the sport for life, but not before she skated at Lillehammer.