Suicide seemed to be extremely unlikely and there was no motive for Hayez to deliberately vanish, mentioned New South Wales State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan. However she mentioned she couldn’t make a discovering on the 2 theories put ahead on the inquest into his disappearance.
One was that Hayez had a deadly accident as he tried to climb in direction of the lighthouse at Byron Bay. The opposite was that a number of folks triggered his loss of life and disposed of his physique.
“Sadly, there may be simply inadequate proof earlier than me to substantiate or exclude both idea,” O’Sullivan mentioned.
Jean-Philippe Pector, the godfather of Hayez, informed reporters outdoors the Byron Bay Court docket Home that the household knew there wouldn’t be any breakthrough after going by means of the inquest course of, however they remained hopeful the “important query” would someday be answered.
“It’s clearly a extremely powerful second as a result of it’s the tip of a troublesome course of,” Pector mentioned. “However I believe it’s finest that the case stays open, permitting new proof to return ahead.”
Hayez, who was getting ready to return to Belgium after eight months of touring round Australia, was final seen about 11 p.m. on Might 31, 2019, after leaving the Cheeky Monkeys nightclub in Byron Bay.
Police had been alerted six days later, when he didn’t return to his hostel and couldn’t be discovered or contacted.
A big-scale search was launched, however the one factor authorities discovered was a hat they believed was owned by Hayez.
Police in February introduced a 500,000 Australian greenback ($313,000) reward for anybody with details about the case.
“I hope if there may be any additional data to be identified, the reward would offer a motivation to return ahead and get in touch with Crime Stoppers,” the coroner mentioned.
O’Sullivan acknowledged the disappointment and loss skilled by the household and mates of Hayez, a few of whom traveled from Belgium to Byron Bay for the inquest.
“It’s apparent from the proof he had a brilliant future forward of him,” she mentioned.
Hayez’s cousin Lisa Hayez informed reporters that Byron Bay felt just like the worst place on the planet but additionally someway like dwelling.
“Like I used to be telling JP (Pector) driving right here, I really feel like I’m driving dwelling, like I’m going dwelling to my folks,” she mentioned. “It’s very, very particular and actually exhausting to explain.”
