MYSTERY remains over the death of a young woman who died of a fatal cocaine overdose in Buenos Aires.

An inquest is being held into the death Laura Hill, 25, who died in Argentina in October 2007.

An Argentine politician previously told The Argus she had groomed as a mule to smuggle cocaine to the UK.

Her sister claims the dental nurse, who lived in Eastbourne, was murdered and that "the authorities are covering it up because they are corrupt".

However, experts have all but ruled out foul play over her death, her inquest at Eastbourne Law Courts heard today.

Two UK doctors involved in examining her body said it was likely the cocaine had been injected.

Dr Peter Jerreat, a now-retired Home Office pathologist, said puncture marks would not necessarily be apparent, and said it was less likely that someone else would have injected the drugs by force.

Dr John Slaughter said the concentration of cocaine was very high and that the levels were on a par with swallowing a packet of the drug.

But the inquest also heard there was no evidence of packaging or foreign matter in her stomach and that Dr Slaughter largely agreed with the Argentinian authorities.

The two also said there was no evidence to suggest Laura had been moved after her death, despite cuts and bruises on her body.

Coroner Alan Craze said the situation left him with question marks but added he could no argue with their evidence.

In a statement from her mother, Alison Hill, read out by Mr Craze, she said: "Laura was very much a free spirit and enjoyed a care-free lifestyle.

"The whole family has been devastated by Laura's death especially due to her young age and having her whole life ahead of her.

"We still have so many unanswered questions."

Her parents still live in Eastbourne.

Mr Craze also read out a statement from Laura's sister, Kerry Hill, who lives in Forest Row.

In it, the 29-year-old said the family had received mixed messages from the Argentinian authorities, leaving them concerned over how she died.

She called Laura a "bubbly daring girl" and said: "I felt that Laura never really told me in any detail about her life.

"She used to take a line of cocaine up her nose as part of the clubbing thing but she was not an addict or a thief.

"I accept she could have got in with a bad crowd and may have got involved with the smuggling of drugs.

"My fear is that she got killed by someone and that the authorities are covering it up because they are corrupt."

The inquest continues on Tuesday.