The father of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez stormed out of court during testimony by one of the security guards who ejected his son from a Byron Bay nightclub before he went missing.
On day four of the inquest into the teenager's mysterious disappearance in Byron Bay on the night of May 31, 2019, Laurent Hayez and other members of Theo's family listened from the public gallery as security guards from Cheeky Monkey's nightclub gave evidence.
Security guard Shannon Mackie told the inquest that he removed the 18-year-old from Cheeky Monkey's in Byron Bay about 11pm on May 31, 2019, hours before he vanished, deciding he was 'approaching intoxication'.
Mr Hayez (above) and other family members have travelled from Belgium for the inquest into Theo's disappearance. Mr Hayez shook his head in disagreement, waved his hand and walked out of the courtroom on day four of the inquest into his son Theo's disappearance, during testimony by a security guard at Byron Bay's Cheeky Monkey's nightclub
David Evenden, lawyer for the Hayez family, asked Mr Mackie how intoxicated people were looked after once they were ejected from the club.
Mr Mackie said if a person requested, the guards would notify someone inside the club to tell them their friend was outside.
'We would sit them down, get some water for them, make sure they’re ok…' he said.
'We could call them a taxi, just make sure they’re ok to get home safe.
The comment caused Laurent Hayez to shake his head in disagreement. He waved his hand and walked out of the courtroom.
Mr Hayez and other family members have travelled from Belgium for the inquest.
On Monday, counsel assisting the coroner Ms Edwards had told the inquest the decision to kick Theo out on his own without any chance to tell his friends had caused his family 'great distress'.
Theo Hayez (in cap, with back to camera) is seen as he is taken outside Cheeky Monkey's nightclub on May 31, 2019, after being removed for 'approaching intoxication'
CCTV footage showed Mr Mackie escorting Theo to the front of the nightclub before asking him to stand on a red X, where he was scanned.
Theo chatted briefly to a man in a white hoodie standing at the front of the queue to get into the club before Mr Mackie summoned him over.
He leans in and, according to his police statement, told Theo: 'I've pulled you outside tonight because I believe you're approaching intoxication and you will not be allowed to re-enter the venue.'
A compliant Theo said 'OK', and then walked away to the left of the club.
Asked whether Theo appeared intoxicated in the video, Mr Mackie replied: 'Not in that footage.'
Ms Edwards asked if Mr Mackie was confident of his assessment that Theo was approaching intoxication.
'Yes, I do,' he replied.
Ms Edwards asked whether Mr Mackie could smell alcohol on Theo's breath once he had taken him outside.
'No,' Mr Mackie replied.
Shannon Mackie (left) is seen talking to missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez (with cap on) after escorting him out of Cheeky Monkey's nightclub at Byron Bay and informing him he could not go back in. Head of security Brad Hill (with back to camera), also gave evidence at the inquest today
Asked why he was so confident Theo was approaching intoxication, Mr Mackie said the club's policy was to err on the side of caution.
'If I see signs, I'll obviously believe they're approaching intoxication [and] as the legislation is so strict in NSW, I always go to that caution and I'll remove the patron,' he said.
'Because it's strict... would you accept it's possible you made a mistake,' Ms Edwards asked.
'Yeah, possibly,' Mr Mackie replied.
Head of security Mr Hill was standing at the entrance of the club as Mr Mackie conducted the assessment of Theo.
He agreed he was not paying full attention to the scene because he trusted Mr Mackie and it 'wasn't my eviction'.
Asked about his police statement on Theo's speech being slurred, Mr Hill said: 'At this point in time, and looking at that footage, when he was talking to Shannon I must have overheard it.'
'Is it possible you're mistaken about hearing his speech? Ms Edwards asked.
'It could be, it could have been a different eviction,' Mr Hill replied. 'I could be remembering another removal.'
There were 15 other evictions of patrons on the same night.
Mr Hill agreed the footage did not suggest Theo was drunk.
Ms Edwards asked Mr Hill about the club's policy on
