The inquest into the death of Gomeroi teenager Mark Anthony Haines has been adjourned for six months after possible new evidence has emerged.
Almost four decade on from his death, the adjournment adds to his family's long wait for answers.
The 17-year-old's body was discovered on train tracks eight kilometres south of Tamworth on the morning of January 16, 1988.
The same morning, a crashed white Torana was found 1.5 kilometres from the scene.
In the months follow his death, police concluded Mark was responsible for his own death, and a subsequent coronial inquest returned an open finding.
The circumstances leading to the teen's death remain a mystery to his family and the wider community.
New dates
On Friday, Counsel Assisting Chris McGory told the inquest in Tamworth Local Court that a delay was necessary, despite the inquest originally planning to conclude.
"It's anticipated further evidence is going to be prepared" Mr McGory told Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame.
Magistrate Graeme conceded the further five days set down for the continued inquest may not be the last.
"I anticipate that we will not finish this inquest in this week" she told the court.
Mark Haines' uncle and long-time advocate Don Craigie said the almost four decade-long journey for his family has now become even longer.
"It's been 36 years so far, and there's another six months further until we get to answers relating to Mark's death," he said.
"I am disappointed to say the least."
Suspicious circumstances
During the first week of the inquest, the court heard from two police officers who attended the scene shortly after Mark's body was discovered.
Former Senior Constable Alan Pitt was asked by Counsel Assisting Chris McGory whether the circumstances of Mark's death seemed suspicious at the time.
The now retired police officer told the court he did have the authority to call out detectives to the scene that morning, but did not.
"Does that mean that you thought there weren't suspicious circumstances?" Mr McGory asked.
"I didn't think there were suspicious circumstances" Mr Pitt told the court.
Former Senior Constable Gordan Guyer told the court that the presence of a towel under Mark's head at the scene was not suspicious, instead describing its presence as "interesting".
An expert opinion
Police had theorised in 1988 Mark may have been in the crashed Torana and made his way from the wreck to the tracks on his own accord.
Forensic pathologist Professor Johan Duflou told the inquest during its first week that was unlikely.
"The totality of the head injuries are so severe," he told the court.
"I can't conceive of a person walking from the car to the train tracks."
The court heard at the time Mark's body was discovered, witnesses described a lack of blood around Mark's body.
A former rail worker who attended the scene that morning described observing a blood spot the size of a 50-cent piece.
The court had heard the crashed Torana near the scene did not appear to have blood in it, leading Professor Duflou to question whether Mark had been involved in an accident.
"If the two options are train and vehicle, I understand no-one has suggested the car had any blood, so maybe it is from the train" he told Magistrate Grahame.
The Torana near Mark's body had suffered extensive damage, however biomechanics expert Dr Andrew McIntosh told the court the injuries Mark sustained were not consistent with ejection from a vehicle.
He did however tell Magistrate Grahame the vehicle appeared to have been involved in a rollover.
Two allegations
During the second week of the inquest, the court heard from two witnesses who say they heard Mark's close friend Glenn Mannion make admissions about the circumstances of Mark's death.
Rodney Lavender, a friend of Glenn Mannion, told the court that on the morning Mark's body was found he saw Mr Mannion looking like he had been in an accident.
He said his friend had "cuts and bruises" and was "a bit of a mess".
The court heard Mr Mannion told his friend "Stoney [Mark Haines] is dead, and I think I killed him".
Mr Mannion's former partner Kathleen Arthur told Magistrate Grahame that at some point in 1995, Mr Mannion drunkenly told her about specific details concerning Mark's death.
Police and a paramedic who attended the scene had told the inquest about seeing a towel under the teenager's head, and the court previously heard that a train driver had reported striking a large "box of gifts" on the tracks in the hours before Mark's body was found.
Ms Arthur told the court Mr Mannion "said they put a towel under his head and a box over him".
"I've never forgotten those things, ever. The towel and the box. It's something you just don't forget," she said.
Mr Mannion denied both allegations in court.
The inquest will return to Tamworth on October 28.