The heartbroken family of a man found dead in a lake are still searching for answers nearly a year and a half later.
Samson Price was found dead at Westwood Flash, in Wigan, on October 4, 2020. An inquest into the 18-year-old's death was due to be held at Bolton Coroners Court on Monday March 14, which his family hoped would give them the answers they have been searching for since his death.
However, the inquest has now been adjourned to May 3 - almost 19 months to the day Samson was found dead - after police were unable to trace a key witness who was called to give evidence, the Manchester Evening news reports.
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Nine members of Samson's family attended Bolton Coroners Court in person on Monday morning, including mum Rosanna Price and sister Atlanta, while dad Samson Price snr and a family friend appeared via video link. The court heard that three key witnesses, described as friends of Samson, who were questioned by police had been called to give evidence.
Two appeared by video link - Patrick Brown and Logan Liptrot - but authorities had not been able to trace the third, named Alexander Harold. Prof Dr Walsh gave the family the option to apply for the inquest to be adjourned so police could track down Mr Harold and he could be summonsed to the coroners court.
He added: "If we knew his whereabouts we would send a police car and bring him round."
Three teenage boys - aged 17, 18 and 19 at the time of Samson's death - were arrested on suspicion of murder and later released. At a hearing last September, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that enquiries into Samson's death had ended with no charges made.
Prof Dr Walsh told the family that the inquest would have to take place at the next hearing, which will be almost 19 months to the day Samson was found dead. Following the hearing, Samson's mum Rosanna said: "I'm not happy that it has been adjourned, but I would rather have everybody here that was involved on the night.
"We just want what we have said from the beginning - we want to know what happened to Samson. We want to know why he is not here. We don't want bits missing - we want to get as close to as we can.
"We are never going to have closure as long as Samson isn't here, but we just want justice. With that boy not being here today it was incomplete."
Rosanna also told the M.E.N. she would prefer to see the key witnesses in court, rather than via video link, with numbers currently restricted due to coronavirus rules still in place at Bolton Coroners Court. She added: "For me the whole point of coming to court is to question and see the faces.
"Speaking to someone face-to-face is a lot different to a video call."
The inquest is now set to take place on May 3 at Bolton Coroners Court.
