FOUR men in a Ford Fiesta could hold the key to the mystery surrounding the death of a builder in York city centre, police said today.

Detective Sergeant John Roberts, leading the investigation into the death of Andrew Hickox, said witnesses had reported seeing a man fitting Mr Hickox's description having an argument with the men in the Fiesta shortly before he died, early on July 20.

Det Sgt Roberts said further scientific tests meant he was satisfied Mr Hickox died after being struck by a motor vehicle, but that he was already lying in the road when he was hit.

He said: "The maroon Fiesta was travelling down King Street. A pedestrian spoke to the occupants and some sort of altercation or argument may have taken place. "That pedestrian may have been Andrew Hickox. The vehicle turned left from King Street to Lower Friargate, the man walked up Clifford Street and turned right."

Updated: 11:32 Monday, August 04, 2003