AN open verdict was recorded at an inquest into the death of a father-of four who died within days of being beaten and dragged out of a Burnley nightspot.

East Lancashire coroner David Smith had previously referred the case back to the Director of Public Prosecutions for charges against two doormen from the former VIP's Club, Bethesda Street, Burnley, to be reconsidered.

Mr Smith said that during the initial inquest he had heard evidence from witnesses at the club last March that Mr Luke had been dragged down the stairs by his legs with his head banging on the steps.

He had also been told of Mr Luke being dragged out of the club and banging his head on the stairs at the entrance and of being put into a head lock and struck in the face. His head was knocked back against a wall.

Mr Luke, 33, of Allerton Drive, Burnley, died days after he was ejected from the club and a post mortem examination showed the cause of death as bleeding blood vessels at the base of his brain.

The DPP had referred the file to the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Merseyside and Lancashire but Mr Smith said: "They told me it was decided simply to proceed with the assault charges on the two doormen."

He added, from what he had read in local newspapers, the cases had been dismissed by magistrates last month because of "insufficient evidence".

At the re-opened inquest, Mr Smith said: "The Home Office pathologist could not say with certainty whether the assault caused the aneurism or whether it was as a result of heightened blood pressure."

The coroner said there was not enough evidence to say Mr Luke had been unlawfully killed nor could he say what had happened was an accident, so he recorded an open verdict.

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