Latest news with #MarkWilliams-Thomas
Daily Record
24-05-2025
- Daily Record
Jay Slater detective slams Spanish police in bombshell revelation over new evidence
Former detective Mark Williams-Thomas claims Spanish police ignored crucial evidence in the mysterious death of Brit teen Jay Slater. A former detective who supported Jay Slater's family in the early days of his disappearance has made a bombshell claim — accusing Spanish police of ignoring key evidence that could have helped crack the case. Mark Williams-Thomas, a former cop turned investigative journalist, claims Spanish authorities failed to act when he offered them a crucial audio recording linked to the 19-year-old's disappearance i n Tenerife. Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, vanished in July 2024 after a ttending the NRG music festiva l. A huge search effort unfolded across the island, lasting nearly a month, before his body was tragically discovered in a rugged national park — hours from where he was last seen with two men he had met at the festival. Now, as an inquest into Jay's death opened at Preston Crown Court, Mr Williams-Thomas has shared his frustration in a seven-minute video, revealing the difficulties he faced dealing with Spanish authorities. 'I sent the information I had in an email,' he said. 'I told them I couldn't share the audio straight away because of how it was obtained — and because it was highly sensitive. But they never came back to me.' He added that in some countries, police are reluctant to cooperate with members of the public, saying: 'They think they always know the answers.' Jay's disappearance gripped headlines across the UK, and his death remains shrouded in questions. The Spanish Civil Guard previously ruled that he died from multiple injuries consistent with a fall in a remote, rocky area near Masca, reports the Mirror. A Home Office pathologist told the inquest that Jay's body was already decomposing when it was examined. The court also heard the teen had a cocktail of drugs in his system at the time of his death. But proceedings were dramatically halted this week after Jay's devastated mum, Debbie, asked for the inquest to be paused until several key witnesses — including Jay's friend Lucy Law, reportedly still in Tenerife — could be located and give evidence. Adding to the ongoing intrigue, the Tenerife Airbnb where Jay spent his final hours has now changed its name in an apparent bid to distance itself from the case. Previously called Casa Abuela Tina, the two-bed property is now listed as Casa El Turrón. In the weeks following Jay's disappearance, the remote location became a hotspot for so-called 'dark tourists' keen to visit the site where the teen was last seen alive.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Jay Slater detective discloses key reason tragic death must be investigated
Ex-detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who initially worked with Jay Slater's family during his disappearance, has revealed why the 19-year-old's death needs to be investigated A detective who investigated the disappearance of Jay Slater has revealed the crucial reason his death must be investigated, as he also called out the Spanish police. Mark Williams-Thomas, who initially helped the Slater family, posted a bombshell video online where he called on people to hold the authorities to account. The investigator shared details of his experience with Spanish police and discussed the difficulties he faced while looking into Jay's case, saying: "Some authorities and countries are open to receiving information better than others." This comes as an inquest into the Brit's death was launched at Preston Crown Court this month. Mark, in a seven-minute long video posted on X, explained the challenges he faced with Spanish cops including allegedly sending evidence and information to police but not hearing back from them. He said: "I sent the information I had in an email to Spanish authorities. I told them I wasn't able to share the audio recording at this point because I needed to explain to them how I had obtained it and also I was very conscious that it was highly sensitive and I didn't want it just being shared all around. They've never come back to me." The detective claimed some countries "really don't like working with the public to get information, they think they always know the answers". The ex-cop then went on to discuss the dangers of misinformation appearing on social media in famous cases like this and called on authorities to do more. Mark also called on the public to hold cops and the authorities to account. He said: "If the authorities aren't doing the job properly, whatever that is or whether the organisation not doing properly, then it's important as investigative reports we hold them to account." The 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had travelled to Tenerife for the NRG music festival in July 2024. He dramatically disappeared after the festival and a huge manhunt was sparked on the island. A 29 day search for the apprentice bricklayer ensued and he was eventually found in a remote national park, around a three hour walk from the town of Masca - where Slater went with two men he met at the festival. Spanish authorities determined the 19-year-old died after sustaining multiple injuries consistent with a fall in a rocky area. Now, during an inquest 10 months after his death, Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said Jay's body was already decomposing when he examined it. The inquest also heard Jay had a cocktail of drugs in his system when he died. The inquest was also abruptly halted on Wednesday after Jay's distraught mum Debbie asked for it to be stopped until several witnesses, including Jay's pal Lucy Law, who is reportedly in Tenerife, can be found to give evidence. Other friends, including Brandon Hodges and Bradley Geoghegan, who also uses the surname Hargreaves, and Ayub Qassim and Steven Roccas, who had rented an Airbnb which Jay visited in the hours before his death, were also not present.
