An inquest into the mysterious disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez will include interviews with 30 witnesses and statements from 12 backpackers.
The 18-year-old was in Australia on a working holiday visa when he was last seen leaving a bar in Byron Bay in northern NSW about 11pm on May 31, 2019.
The two-week inquest is going to be held in Byron Bay to allow NSW State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan to access locations and involve the local community.
At a preliminary hearing into his disappearance on Friday Kristina Edwards, counsel assisting Ms O'Sullivan, apologised to 'everyone involved' in the inquest for its delay as it won't be starting until November 29, 2021.
Theo Hayez with his girlfriend Severine Marcotty. Theo vanished on May 31 last year after leaving Cheeky Monkey's in Byron Bay, northern New South Wales
Theo Hayez (pictured) was backpacking in Australia and was passing through Byron Bay when he vanished in 2019
The pandemic had made it difficult to 'obtain hearing dates' especially in the small coastal town of Byron Bay, The Australian reported.
'The inquest has to be held in Byron Bay because the location is so significant,' Ms Edwards said.
'The court must access and understand the geographical features and key locations involved in the disappearance.'
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ShareMs Edwards also said it was critical that Theo's family attend from Europe if possible and that the case had sparked interest in the local community.
She added that Byron Bay locals had an 'active' involvement in searching for Theo.
'It is hoped that by continuing the awareness and profile of this inquest in Byron Bay, members of the public will continue to come forward with any information they consider to be relevant,' she said.
Theo Hayez's disappearance could have significant impact on other missing persons cases (pictured, left, with his girlfriend)
Data from Hayez's phone has traced this route as his last known movements before he vanished on the night of May 31, 2019
Leading judge Ms O'Sullivan on Friday said the process of obtaining data from Theo's phone was 'not straightforward' and it could change the way missing persons cases are handled.
She called for a better 'joint protocol' between tech giants when people go missing.
Detectives investigating missing persons and family members desperate to locate their loved ones still have to deal with complicated legal and privacy restrictions delaying access to vital digital information.
Ms Edwards told the hearing better use of technology could 'transform' these types of cases as data can be collected from tech giants within hours.
But Ms Edwards said it 'is not a straightforward process'.
Theo was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey Bar on May 31 in Byron Bay, northern New South Wales
Police officers conduct a search for Theo in bushland near Tallows Beach in Byron Bay
In a 15-minute summary of Hayez's disappearance, Ms Edwards recapped facts around the case and concluded digital data was 'critical' in this case and would also be key to solving others.
Hayez's Oppo smartphone had been pinging data back to Google every 15 minutes - but only through the perseverance of his family was the treasure trove of information eventually released.
They discovered he had looked for directions on Google Maps back to his backpacker accommodation after he left Cheeky Monkeys bar but location data showed he walked in the opposite direction.
Hayez, who was only passing through Byron Bay, walked through residential areas and bushland to arrive at Cosy Corner, at one end of Tallow Beach near the lighthouse, at about midnight.
Cosy Corner at Tallow Beach (pictured) is where Hayez's phone last pinged
Pictured: Theo Hayez's family pay tribute to the backpacker on his 20th birthday in September
Ms Edwards said there were then messages sent in French by a person 'believed to be Theo', which suggests he was alive and safe.
But it is still not known where Theo went after his phone signal died, or what happened to him.
Ms Edwards said her team and the manager of the NSW Police missing person register were working with Facebook, Google and Uber to develop a 'joint-protocol' for when a person goes missing.
The 18-year-old's suspected death was formally reported to a Byron Bay coroner on September 5 last year but Ms O'Sullivan has taken over the case and is directing police to continue investigations.
NSW Police has since submitted a two-volume brief of evidence which will be the 'foundation for further investigations'.
The coroner's team has interviewed at least 30 witnesses from the night of Theo's disappearance and taken draft statements from 12 backpackers who stayed with him.
Belgium authorities have also conducted their own investigation, which is ongoing.
The two-week inquest into Hayez's disappearance will be held in Byron Bay by state coroner O'Sullivan in November 2021.
A grey Puma cap was found in bushland at Tallows Beach, with Theo's family confirming the cap belonged to the missing backpacker
The Belgian backpacker's father, Laurent Hayez (pictured centre) speaking in Australia
THE TIMELINE OF THEO HAYEZ'S DISAPPEARANCE
May 31st 7.45pm: Theo Hayez and an unnamed friend were caught on CCTV camera at a local bottle shop in Byron Bay.
May 31st 11pm: The last confirmed sighting of Hayez. He was spotted leaving the Cheeky Monkey's bar.
June 1st AM: The last confirmed WhatsApp message was sent from Theo's phone.
June 1st 1:42pm: Theo's phone pinged for the last time.
June 6th: Theo was reported missing to local police .
June 9th: Police conducted a major land, sea and air search in the Byron Bay area with the assistance of rescue officers, the State Emergency Service, a lifesaver helicopter and lifesavers.
June 10th: Locals and other backpackers joined in the search for Theo.
June 10th-June 16th: SES crews, the dog squad, lifeguards, local volunteers and police are continuing to search the Byron Bay headlands, east and north of the town, as well as beaches and swamps.
June 16th: Theo's mother Vinciane Delforge, told a French broadcaster in Belgium she is holding out hope her son is safe and well, but said his disappearance is entirely out of character.
June 17th: Theo's father Laurent Hayez travels to Byron Bay to help search for his son Theo. He makes an emotional plea asking Australia to keep looking for his son and vows to stay in the country until he is found.
He says he hopes WhatsApp will cooperate with police to decode the messages that Theo last sent - a feat, he says, which could change the course of the search.
Police confess they are still 'baffled' by the case, and are keeping all lines of inquiry open.
Homicide detectives join in on the search for Theo.
July 3rd: NSW Police announce the full-scale search for the teenager had been called off, but investigations are ongoing.
July 12th: Theo's heartbroken father flies home.
July 17th: Top forensic psychologist Tim Watson-Munro says believes Theo could have been the victim of an unknown serial killer, along with two 20-year-old backpackers who went missing on the NSW north coast months prior.
July 18th: Theo's parents reveal they believe he is still alive and are holding out hope he is in a commune.
August: A dedicated group of Byron Bay locals have brought in cadaver dogs to search for missing Belgian tourist Theo Hayez.
The dogs and their handlers scoured bushland in the Arakwal National Park including Tallow Beach.
September: Theo's father Laurent Hayez arrives back in Australia to continue his search for his son.
September 16th: Police call off the search for Theo and refer his case to the coroner.
October 13th: Theo's family confirm a cap found in dense bushland near to where the missing backpacker's phone last 'pinged' belonged to him.
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