A GRIEVING dad today vowed to continue his fight for answers on how his son died after telling an inquest he believed he had been killed.

Keith Haworth, 52, spoke after it was revealed that a flatmate seen walking out of a room where Liam Haworth was found had absconded and police could not trace him.

Coroner Richard Taylor recorded an open verdict, stating there was insufficient evidence as to how the drugs which killed the 24-year-old came to be in his system.

The hearing was told Liam, of Rosetti Avenue, Burnley, was discovered in a flat he shared with two workmates near Amsterdam, Holland, in October 2003.

He was taken to hospital where he later died. A mobile phone and 700 euros of his money were missing, the hearing was told.

The court was told Dutch police decided not to launch a criminal investigation into the death of Mr Haworth, who had a history of taking cocaine, the sleeping pill tamazepam and cannabis.

His body was flown home and a post mortem examination found he died of an overdose of tamazepam possible compounded by methadone.

One of the men who found Mr Haworth, Steve McQueen told the court he had meet the father-of-two a couple of days earlier.

They pair went out drinking with their flatmate, Alan Osbourne, the night before Mr Haworth's death.

Mr McQueen said he arrived back at the flat after the others and heard them talking.

He said the next morning and saw Mr Osbourne walk out of Mr Haworth's room before going back in minutes later and discovering Mr Haworth, who was slumped against the radiator.

Det Chief Insp Mark Gray said he launched an investigation after he was contacted by Mr Haworth.

He told the hearing this inquriy had been hampered by the lack of an investigation by the Dutch and officers had not spoken to Mr Osbourne, who was wanted by police for an unconnected offence, because he had absconded.

He said it was reasonable to conclude the drugs in Mr Haworth's system were taken in his room that night but it was not known whether he took them through choice or was spiked.

Mr Haworth broke down in tears when criticising Dutch authorities for their lack of an investigation.

He said: "I was told the investigation was over. It was soul destroying.

I don't know what offence he (Osbourne) has committed elsewhere but I know he has done something serious to my son.

I want justice. I expect a very thorough investigation."

After the inquest Mr Haworth, of Burnley Road, Todmorden said he would continue to press English and Dutch authorities for a detailed investigation.