Latest news with #PrestonCoroner'sCourt
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
5 bombshells from Jay Slater inquest from cause of death to chilling final text
An inquest exploring the circumstances of Jay Slater's shock death has revealed a host of new details about the tragic teen's disappearance and the recovery of his body from a ravine a month later. Jay, 19, went missing after leaving an Airbnb in the village of Masca in Teno, Tenerife, in June 2024, prompting a massive manhunt that grabbed international headlines for more than a month. When his lifeless body was recovered from the bottom of the Juan Lopez ravine on July 15, authorities concluded he had died from massive trauma, including a serious brain injury. The now-adjourned inquest at Preston Coroner's Court has clarified a host of facts, including shedding light on his cause of death and the Oswaldtwistle teen's final moments. The court heard that Jay sent his last text message at 2.39am on the morning he disappeared, when he would have just returned from the NRG music festival. The message to a friend was received with concern, with his friend telling him to "come home" and that he was "off your barnet". He wrote: "They've got a marker on me." And the friend replied: "You need to get home lad, you're off your barnet." Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves, two people who were with the trainee bricklayer in Tenerife and had featured prominently in coverage of Jay's disappearance, did not attend the inquest. Coroner Dr James Adeley said the two key witnesses had "denied who they are" ahead of the hearing yesterday, Mirror UK reports. The coroner told the court they "cannot be located", saying: "We can't find them. They have denied who they are and we have had police looking for them but we can't find them." It's since emerged that Lucy Law is currently on holiday in Tenerife and is unaware police have been trying to track her down. Her stepfather Andy Davis said last night: "The police have only just been round today to say that she was due to give evidence. But it's the first time we knew of it... We had no idea Jay's inquest was even being held today." Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said Jay may have died "in an instant" after falling into the ravine, stating the fall would have had an "immediate and devastating effect on Jay's consciousness". He added that the teen had sustained "severe" injuries before concluding the official cause of death was a head injury, agreeing with an earlier consensus offered by Spanish pathologists. He said: "The injuries were so severe I have not doubt he would have been instantly unconscious from the moment of that blow to the head. Death could well have been instant the injury was so severe. Jay would undoubtedly be unconscious and unaware. It's most likely death would have occurred instantly or extremely soon afterwards." One witness, Josh Forshaw, told the inquest he had met Jay and his friends as they queued to board their plane from Manchester to Tenerife, and that the two had traded contact details. Josh said the group "seemed dead happy", adding Jay had later sent him a photo with "knives down his trousers". He said the photo was captioned: 'In case it kicks off". While Josh didn't inform Spanish police of the photo, he said he informed Lancashire Police when he returned home to the UK. Dr Shepherd told the inquest that he had considered whether Jay was restrained or assaulted before his death, and that this was "something I would always look to identify". He ultimately concluded that there was "nothing to suggest" the teen had been assaulted or restrained. The pathologist said: "That's something I considered very carefully, something I would always look to identify. The pattern of the injuries when someone is assaulted or restrained are very different from the type of injuries and pattern I found with Jay." When questioned whether there was anything "to suggest that was the case" the pathologist added: "Nothing to suggest an assault, gripping, holding, nothing of that sort."
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
5 unanswered Jay Slater questions from Rolex and knives to mystery mates
The inquest examining the death of 19-year-old Jay Slater has shed light on a number of details surrounding the tragedy, but several questions remain unanswered An inquest exploring the circumstances of Jay Slater 's shock death has revealed a host of new details about the tragic teen's disappearance and the recovery of his body from a ravine a month later - but questions remain. Jay, 19, went missing after leaving an Airbnb in the village of Masca in Teno, Tenerife, in June 2024, prompting a massive manhunt that grabbed international headlines for more than a month. When his lifeless body was recovered from the bottom of the Juan Lopez ravine on July 15, authorities concluded he had died from massive trauma, including a serious brain injury. The now-adjourned inquest at Preston Coroner's Court has clarified a host of facts, including shedding light on his cause of death and the Oswaldtwistle teen's final moments. However, there are some issues which remain in dispute about Jay's disappearance. Where is the missing Rolex? Investigators questioned taxi drivers and bar staff working near the Papagayo Beach Club in Tenerife after a fight reportedly broke out on June 17 - the same night 19-year-old Jay Slater was partying there. During the altercation, a high-end Rolex watch was allegedly stolen. Although there was speculation linking Jay to the theft, police never found any evidence to support this theory. Despite the lack of proof, rumours continued to circulate, raising questions around the circumstances of Jay's disappearance. His mother, Debbie Duncan, strongly denied any suggestion that her son was involved in the theft, calling the accusation a 'vile rumour.' However, during the inquest, it was revealed that Jay admitted stealing a £12,000 Rolex and was pictured with knives before he was found dead in Tenerife last June. Between 5:03am and 5:52am on the morning Jay vanished, a message was sent from his phone saying: "Just took a £12k Rolly off some **** off to get 10 quid for it now." The inquest heard Jay sent a message to witness Josh Forshaw where he said: "Ended up getting thrown out with two Mali kids, just took an AP [expensive watch strap] off somebody and was on the way to sell it." Josh told the hearing via videolink that Jay revealed he was planning to sell the strap for "10 quid" - a slang term for £10,000. But the whereabouts of the Rolex is still unknown, as it was never found. Where did he get the knives? Shortly before his death, Jay also sent Josh Forshaw a photo of himself with "knives down his trousers". He captioned the image "in case it kicks off". Josh said he didn't inform Spanish police about the image. It wasn't until he returned home to the UK that he reported it to Lancashire Police. The inquest heard no explanation has been offered or uncovered as to why Jay had the knives or believed anything would "kick off". Where are his friends? Jay's friends Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves were not able to be tracked down to give evidence. They flew to the Spanish island in June last year with Jay, 19, to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas. The coroner said: "We can't find them. They have denied who they are and we have had police looking for them but we can't find them." Lucy, currently believed to be in Tenerife, was reportedly the one who Jay called last June, telling her he was lost, had 1% battery and needed water. Brad, who joined Lucy and Jay on the Tenerife last summer, is also understood to be on holiday, the inquest was told. Ms Law is said to be on holiday on the very island where he died, according to her family. She is reportedly unaware police even want to speak to her for the purposes of Mr Slater's inquest. Meanwhile, Brad is thought to be on a holiday booked last October. However, just hours ahead of the inquest, Brad took to Instagram Stories, where he posted a full-length mirror selfie, covering his face with an emoji. He posed with his hand in his pocket, dressed in all black. The post featured a time stamp which read '07:29'. Where are the other witnesses? Shortly before he vanished, Jay went to an Airbnb in the village of Masca which was being rented out by Ayub Qassim and Steven Roccas. Police have been unable to find the two men, and have therefore not been able to serve a summons for them to give evidence at the inquest. The coroner's office had spoken to somebody over the phone who they believed was Mr Roccas - but the person denied being him. If police have a reasonable belief that an individual is that named on a witness summons, they can still serve it. If that person then fails to attend court, a warrant for their arrest can be issued. The coroner has suggested that the inquest into Jay's death will likely resume "in a month or two" to allow for more time to locate the two men. Why did he walk home? The court was told that, at 2.39am on the morning the teenager vanished, he sent a worrying message that persuaded a concerned friend to ask him to "come home". Jay wrote: "They've got a marker on me." The friend replied: "You need to get home lad, you're off your barnet." TV sleuth Mark Williams-Thomas, who interviewed Qassim, said that he claimed to have offered Jay a lift back to his hotel after he slept, but was turned down as he was hungry and "wanted some scran". Mr Williams-Thomas, who helped expose Jimmy Savile's vile sex crimes after the TV presenter's death, revealed that Qassim said that Jay had been eager to leave the Airbnb on waking up the next morning and a neighbour had told him about a bus that could take him back. He said: "Qassim said to him 'Chill, mate, I'll drop you off later, when I wake up' but he said Jay said 'nah, I need some scran, I'm hungry'. "Jay said he had been told by the woman the bus to Los Cristianos was every ten minutes and Qassim said there was no bus and added 'Do what you like' before going to sleep." Jay was last heard from around 8:30 BST that morning, when he called Miss Law and told her he was lost and had 1% battery on his phone before the call cut out.
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Jay Slater's friend sent him desperate warning text on the morning he died
Hours before he died in a ravine in Tenerife, Jay Slater texted his friend a worrying message - to which his concerned pal replied warning him he should "go home" Hours before he died in a Spanish ravine, Jay Slater's friend warned him to go home as he was 'off his barnet', an inquest into his death heard. The apprentice bricklayer, 19, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire , was found dead in Tenerife last year following a massive month-long island manhunt launched after he mysteriously vanished one morning. The missing persons case sparked massive international interest, and, following a funeral in August 2024, an inquest into the teenager's death began on Wednesday before later being adjourned. Preston Coroner's Court heard a series of new details regarding the distressing incident, including the last text he ever sent. The court was told that, at 2.39am on the morning the teenager vanished, he sent a worrying message that persuaded a concerned friend to ask him to "come home". Jay wrote: "They've got a marker on me." The friend replied: "You need to get home lad, you're off your barnet." Jay was found dead in the Juan Lopez ravine on July 15, more than a month after he was reported missing in mid-June, near the remote village of Masca in Teno. He had stayed the night there at an Airbnb with two strangers after attending the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas, and opted to start walking back to his accommodation on the opposite side of the island after missing a bus. His body was found in a steep and inaccessible area by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard. The inquest was told that traces of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, were found in Mr Slater's body and pathologists concluded his death from head injuries was consistent with a fall. Toxicology expert Dr Stephanie Martin told the hearing that analysis of Jay's body showed traces of MDMA and MDA, commonly known as ecstasy, along with cocaine and alcohol. Analysis of samples by Spanish authorities also showed the presence of ketamine which was not found in the UK samples. Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd detailed Mr Slater's injuries from his post-mortem examination. Dr Shepherd said: 'The pattern of the injuries were entirely consistent with a heavy fall, a fall from a height, landing on his head.' Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, asked the witness if there was any suggestion of an assault or restraint of the teenager. Dr Shepherd said: 'That's something I considered very carefully, something I would always look to identify. "The pattern of the injuries when someone is assaulted or restrained is very different from the type of injuries and pattern I found with Jay.' Dr Adeley continued: 'Nothing to suggest that was the case?' Dr Shepherd said he concluded the cause of death as a head injury.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Daily Record
Jay Slater inquest's 'missing' witness Lucy Law is 'on holiday in Tenerife'
A Slater family source also told Mail Online: "Lucy is in Tenerife. Another supposedly untraceable witness is on holiday in Greece. If we can find this out so quickly why can't the police?" A "missing" witness in the inquest into Jay Slater's death is reportedly still in Tenerife on holiday where he died, according to his family. Lucy Law is believed to be in Tenerife and said to be unaware police even want to speak to her for the purposes of Mr Slater's inquest. The hearing was adjourned on Wednesday after the teenager's tearful mum told the coroner she still had questions which needed answers. Preston Coroner's Court was told witnesses in the case hadn't been traced and these are thought to include Ms Law, who was on holiday with Mr Slater, 19, when he went missing last summer, reports the Mirror. However, speaking last night from the family home in Burnley, Lancashire, Ms Laws's stepfather Andy Davis said: "The police have only just been round today to say that she was due to give evidence. But it's the first time we knew of it... We had no idea Jay's inquest was even being held today." A Slater family source also told Mail Online: "Lucy is in Tenerife. Another supposedly untraceable witness is on holiday in Greece. If we can find this out so quickly why can't the police?" Other missing witnesses include two men whose Airbnb holiday let Mr Slater, an apprentice bricklayer, went to before vanishing. After all the evidence had been heard on Wednesday, Ms Duncan addressed Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen. She said: "How can we ever get any understanding? There's things we want to question. We want these people to be sat in front of us, because our son went on holiday and didn't come back, so there's questions we need to ask." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Ms Law received a call last June from the 19-year-old British tourist saying he was lost, had one per cent charge on his phone and needed water. Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had attended the NRG Festival at Papagayo, in Playa de las Americas, Tenerife on June 16 last year but became separated from his friends, including Ms Law, following the all-night rave. The inquest, now adjourned with no new date set, heard traces of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, were found in Mr Slater's body and pathologists concluded his death from head injuries was consistent with a fall. But Dr Adeley said: "When drugs are involved in a death, the witnesses are less than forthcoming and do not wish to speak to the authorities." He later added: "We can't find them (the witnesses), they have stopped responding to phone calls." Following a search lasting 29 days, Mr Slater's body was found in a ravine on July 15. The terrain in this area was described as "really steep, really dangerous" during the inquest, which will resume at a later - as yet unfixed - date.
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Five things we've learned from Jay Slater's inquest- from knives to missing pals
An inquest into the tragic teen's death at Preston Coroner's Court was adjourned on Wednesday after the coroner and an official pathologist confirmed a flurry of new details An inquest exploring the circumstances of Jay Slater 's shock death has revealed a host of new details about the tragic teen's disappearance and subsequent recovery from a ravine. Jay, 19, went missing after leaving an Airbnb in the village of Masca in Teno, Tenerife, in June 2024, prompting a massive manhunt that grabbed international headlines for more than a month. When his lifeless body was recovered from the bottom of the Juan Lopez ravine on July 15, authorities concluded he had died from massive trauma, including a serious brain injury. The now-adjourned inquest at Preston Coroner's Court has clarified a host of facts, including shedding light on the cause of his death, and the Oswaldtwistle teen's final moments. Jay's haunting last message The court heard that Jay sent his last text message at 2.39am on the morning he disappeared, when he would have just returned from the NRG music festival. The message to a friend was received with concern, with his friend telling him to "come home" and that he was "off your barnet". He wrote: "They've got a marker on me." And the friend replied: "You need to get home lad, you're off your barnet." Key witnesses 'can't be found' Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves, two people who were with the trainee bricklayer in Tenerife and had featured prominently in coverage of Jay's disappearance, have not been found. Coroner Dr James Adeley said the two key witnesses had "denied who they are" ahead of the hearing earlier today. The coroner told the court they "cannot be located", saying: "We can't find them. They have denied who they are and we have had police looking for them but we can't find them." Teen's official cause of death Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said Jay may have died "in an instant" after falling into the ravine, stating the fall would have had an "immediate and devastating effect on Jay's consciousness". He added that the teen had sustained "severe" injuries before concluding the official cause of death was a head injury, agreeing with an earlier consensus offered by Spanish pathologists. He said: "The injuries were so severe I have not doubt he would have been instantly unconscious from the moment of that blow to the head. Death could well have been instant the injury was so severe. Jay would undoubtedly be unconscious and unaware. It's most likely death would have occurred instantly or extremely soon afterwards." The knives photo One witness, Josh Forshaw, told the inquest he had met Jay and his friends as they queued to board their plane from Manchester to Tenerife, and that the two had traded contact details. Josh said the group "seemed dead happy", adding Jay had later sent him a photo with "knives down his trousers". He said the photo was captioned: 'In case it kicks off". While Josh didn't inform Spanish police of the photo, he said he informed Lancashire Police when he returned home to the UK. Officials investigated whether Jay was restrained Dr Shepherd told the inquest that he had considered whether Jay was restrained or assaulted before his death, and that this was "something I would always look to identify". He ultimately concluded that there was "nothing to suggest" the teen had been assaulted or restrained. The pathologist said: "That's something I considered very carefully, something I would always look to identify. The pattern of the injuries when someone is assaulted or restrained are very different from the type of injuries and pattern I found with Jay." When questioned whether there was anything "to suggest that was the case" the pathologist added: "Nothing to suggest an assault, gripping, holding, nothing of that sort."
