Jay Slater inquest - biggest bombshells from 'fuming' voicenote to knives claim
The 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared on June 17, 2024, after enjoying the NRG music festival with mates on the Spanish isle. His body was found nearly a month later in the rugged, rocky landscape near the isolated village of Masca following an extensive search.
The inquest began earlier this year but was adjourned, leaving crucial questions hanging as Jay's mum Debbie Duncan called for key witnesses to step forward after their initial absence.
As evidence is set to be wrapped up this week, the Mirror has highlighted the most shocking revelations from today's session. (Image: ENTERPRISE NEWS AND PICTURES) Desperate phone call from 'middle of nowhere'
Jay Slater made a desperate phone call to a friend stating "I'm in the middle of nowhere... there is literally nothing but mountains" on the day he vanished.
Lucy Law - who jetted off to Tenerife for a holiday with Jay last summer - recounted to the court how she "started panicking" upon receiving the call. She testified that Jay asked her about the toxicity of cacti, to which she responded: "A cactus is the least of your problems, go back to where you have just come from."
During the conversation, Jay told her "I can't go back there", but she expressed that she didn't think anything serious had occurred, noting: "I also feel like, if something had gone on in terms of conflict, I feel like he probably would have said." Key witnesses fails to show again The Airbnb, formerly Casa Abuela Tina (Image: Stan Kujawa)
Coroner's officer Alice Swarbrick has stated that exhaustive efforts have been made to gather evidence from key witnesses who have yet to come forward.
Steven 'Rocky' Roccas, who shared an Airbnb with Jay before his disappearance, was unreachable for yesterday's hearing. Brandon Hodgson, a mutual friend of Ayub Qassim - a fellow Brit last seen with Jay - also did not appear.
Lois Norris, the barrister representing Jay's family, noted that Brandon seemed "unwilling to give evidence" according to earlier message exchanges. Despite being repeatedly summoned to his Lancashire home and contacted via multiple calls and voicemails, Brandon, believed to be in Tenerife, did not respond; neither did his mother, Natalie Hodgson, after receiving a letter personally.
Steven 'Rocky' Roccas was approached by Alice Swarbrick on April 17 to submit a statement by email, but he ceased responding to calls shortly after. Ms Swarbrick had police visit several London addresses, checked the Police National Computer, and even voting records in an attempt to find him, all to no avail. Jay and pals may have taken things 'a bit too far' Jay Slater (Image: FACEBOOK)
Jay's friends have conceded that they might have gone 'a bit too far' while celebrating on their inaugural lads' holiday. When questioned about Jay's conduct during the vacation, his mate Brad confessed: "Well it was our first holiday as a boys' holiday so we might have took it a bit too far."
Brad disclosed that on the evening of June 16, Jay had taken ecstasy and cocaine, and had also used ketamine at some stage during the getaway, though he couldn't confirm whether it was on that specific evening.
He assessed Jay's intoxication level as six out of ten, characterising him as "giddy." He explained that he and Jay were "both just having a laugh with each other." 'Fuming' voicenote sent to Jay before he vanished Jay and Lucy Law
During the chaotic hours on the night preceding Jay's vanishing, his friend Lucy Law revealed she was desperately trying to track him down after he had popped to the toilet whilst at the NRG music festival. She explained: "We all split up to try and find him in the place but then none of us could find him in there so at this point our phones were nearly dead and he was still not answering his phone."
The gang then searched the strip, with Lucy presuming he'd struck up conversations or perhaps met a girl to spend time with, as Jay was a "social butterfly."
Shortly after, he texted saying "I'm in Oasis," and subsequently mentioned being at Sugar Reef - situated two or three venues along - yet Lucy still couldn't locate him. She then left him an angry voicemail declaring: "Where are you and what are you doing? I am coming down to get you. If you're not there this time I will be f**** fuming."
Eventually, when Lucy found him, Jay casually said he wasn't ready to leave. "There's no way I'm going home," he told her.
Ayub Qassim, a fellow Brit but not an old mate from back home, later invited Jay over to his rented Airbnb in the Tenerife mountain village of Masca. Ayub Qassim scolded during inquest hearing Ayub Qasim (Image: YouTube)
Ayub Qassim, believed to be the last person to see the Lancashire teenager alive, extended his sympathies to Jay's family at the inquest - but was scolded after he veered off-topic by bringing up "kids dying in Palestine."
He stated: "First and foremost I want to send my condolences to Jay's family. I want people to also think about the kids that are dying..." At which point the coroner interjected: "You are not here to make political statements."
On the eve of Jay's disappearance, Ayub recounted partying with Jay until "5am pushing 6am maybe."
Jay was "on the buzz," Ayub described. "Head bopping, chilled, happy. He was coherent."
He then offered Jay a lift home. Ayub recalled telling Jay: "Bearing in mind I live a bit far away but I'll drop you off in the morning if you want."
After being informed by a local that a bus would arrive in 10 minutes, Jay opted to take public transport back to his flat. Pals deny specul ation about knives and stolen watch Jay with his pal Brad Hargreaves (Image: bradg14233/Instagram)
During the inquest, Jay's friends refuted speculation that he had stolen a watch and was carrying knives in his shorts. They insisted they had no knowledge of any timepiece being stolen, despite a Snapchat where Jay allegedly bragged about pinching an AP watch he intended to sell.
Ayub remarked: "When you're younger you might exaggerate things. But one hundred per cent I didn't see a watch getting taken, maybe he was just bigging himself up to his pals."
Lucy also stated she had no memory of any watch on the night, and that Jay had never mentioned one to her.
Addressing a separate rumour about Jay carrying two kitchen knives in his shorts, Brad was questioned if this would be out of character. He replied "yes," noting nothing suggested Jay was ever troubled, frightened, or unsettled. Factors which contributed to Jay's death revealed Jay's body was found in a ravine in Tenerife (Image: Stan Kujawa)
The mountain rescue squad revealed there were multiple factors that resulted in Jay's tragic fall. They attributed his death to his inexperience in mountainous landscape, recklessness, reduced physical condition, and a general lack of restraint coupled with inadequate gear for the environment.
Harsh weather circumstances and the natural danger presented by unstable, tumbling stones were also highlighted as crucial components that may have caused Jay's fatal fall.
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