Police have admitted they are powerless to force missing key witnesses to attend Jay Slater‘s inquest.
A coroner adjourned the teenager’s hearing 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 pals, 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.
In a new statement, a Lancashire Police spokesman today told the Mirror: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Jay’s family and friends at this distressing time.
“We supported HM Coroner by making extensive efforts to contact a number of witnesses ahead of the inquest, both in Lancashire and more widely. However we understand some of these individuals may be abroad and had already left the country when these efforts were made.”
The spokesman added: “We have no jurisdiction in such circumstances to compel someone to attend. We will continue to support the coroner ahead of the resumption of the inquest.
“Once again, our thoughts are with Jay’s loved ones.”
Former police detective Mark Williams-Thomas claims to have undisclosed evidence from convicted drug dealer Qassim about the circumstances of Jay’s death.
Mr Williams-Thomas, who helped the Slaters look for Jay, says the information sheds new light on the apprentice bricklayer’s actions on the day he died. Mr Williams-Thomas said: “The most important witness the police have also been unable to trace is Qassim.
“It’s from Ayub I have very crucial evidence that has not yet been made public and does provide, I believe, greater context as to why Jay left that property on that morning and took the decision to walk.”
The inquest at Preston coroners court heard Jay, 19, died from “devastating” injuries, including a fractured skull, and was found in a remote mountainous area of Tenerife last July, 28 days after he vanished.
According to a toxicology report, he had traces of MDMA [ecstasy], cocaine, ketamine and alcohol in his system when he died. The inquest, attended by his mum Debbie, dad Warren and brother Zac, heard Jay messaged friends referring to being with “two kids” who had stolen a luxury watch from someone, and had sent a picture of himself with two knives.
He was driven to the Airbnb in the village of Masca, some 22 miles from where he was staying, before later leaving on foot. Statements were read from Spanish locals Ramon Hernandez and Juan Diaz, who were working near the holiday let Jay visited.
Both said at around 7.45am on the day Jay disappeared, an “English-speaking guy” carrying a 500ml bottle of Coca-Cola approached them and asked about buses and taxis before moving on.
Appealing for witnesses to appear at the inquest, which is now set to be re-listed, Jay’s mum Debbie sobbed: “I know you have tried to locate them but how can we ever get any understanding?
“We have read their statements and we want to ask them questions. Our son went on holiday and didn’t come back so there are questions we need to ask… please.”
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