A PLEA for witnesses to the death of a man who died from a heroin overdose in a public toilet in Maidstone has been re-launched by police after a fruitless 15-month investigation.

Police have been unable to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of Karoli Vizi, of Lancet Lane, Loose, Maidstone, on November 17, 2000, because no witnesses have ever come forward.

An inquest into Mr Vizi's death, held in Maidstone last Friday, was told that police have been unable to explain how the 34-year-old - who was not a known drug addict and was five times over the drink-drive limit at the time of his death - obtained the heroin, injected it and stashed the needle in a bin before collapsing.

Mr Vizi, a recovering alcoholic, had visited rehabilitation centres in Tonbridge and Maidstone on the day of his death and in a telephone call to a friend vowed to give up drinking.

Investigating officer Insp Gerald Smith told the inquest that Mr Vizi - known as Karl - was sober when he left Tonbridge at about 11.30am but was breathalyzed when he arrived at the Cornerstone Drug and Alcohol Information Counselling Service, Marsham Street, Maidstone, at about 3.15pm and was found to be drunk.

After he left the clinic, he telephoned a friend at 3.50pm, but police have no idea what happened to Mr Vizi between then and 4.24pm when his body was found in the Church Street public toilet, near Somerfield supermarket.

A post mortem examination revealed no bruises or signs that Mr Vizi was involved in a struggle and the pathologist, Dr David Rouse,could not find a needle mark anywhere on the body.

But the examination concluded Mr Vizi had 372mgs of alcohol per 100mls of blood - almostfive times over the drink drive limit - and had an amount of heroin in his blood which, according to Mid Kent and Medway Coroner Roger Sykes, could only be given by injection.

A syringe found by police at the scene contained traces of the class-A drug as well as a DNA fragment which did not match Mr Vizi but has not yet been identified.

Police have also been unable to identify the voice of a 999 caller, using the alias of David James, who told police where the body was.

Mr Sykes, who recorded an open verdict, said: "There is no evidence that he intended his own death. One or more persons know something about this death. I do very much hope that there may be somebody who reads a report of this inquest and may find it in themselves to come forward with information that will assist the police and Karl's parents in understanding what happened."

Anyone with information about Mr Vizi's death should call the Maidstone and Malling police's area crime management unit on 01622 608189.