WITNESSES can’t be forced to attend Jay Slater’s inquest, police have admitted.
It comes after the teenager’s devastated mum pleaded with the coroner to summon crucial witnesses after they failed to turn up.
Refer to CaptionJay Slater was found dead in Tenerife last year[/caption]
Jay with mum Debbie DuncanIan Whittaker
STEVE ALLENGrieving Debbie, pictured outside the inquest, made a plea for witnesses to come forward[/caption]
Jay, 19, was found dead in Tenerife 29 days after he vanished on June 17.
The apprentice bricklayer, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, died of traumatic head injuries after falling to his death in the remote, mountainous Rural de Teno Park.
But details surrounding final movements still remain unclear – leaving his heartbroken family tormented.
Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan previously told The Sun she was tortured by “so many unanswered questions”.
An inquest this week at Preston Coroner’s Court was adjourned after grieving Debbie begged for key witnesses to be tracked down.
The two friends Jay was on holiday on the Spanish island with – Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves – failed to turn up, as did the two men who Jay went to an Airbnb with before his death.
Police have now confessed they are powerless to bring these people – who could give vital details of Jay’s final hours to give his family the closure they deserve – to court.
Lancashire Police said: “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.
“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.”
Jay flew to Tenerife last June to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas with two friends, Lucy and Brad.
The teen travelled to an Airbnb apartment in Masca with two men – convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim and Brit Steven Roccas – in the early hours of June 17, before leaving at around 8am.
He made a heartbreaking final call to friend Lucy saying he had cut his leg, was lost, dehydrated and had just one per cent battery on his phone after he left the Airbnb.
Senior Coroner Dr James Adeley told an inquest on Wednesday that all four were among who could not be traced to give evidence.
STEVE ALLENJay’s Dad Warren Slater with his son Zak outside the Coroners Court on Wednesday[/caption]
InstagramJay and Lucy Law, one of the last to see him alive[/caption]
Police have tried to track down Ayub Qassim, who rented the Airbnb Jay went back to
Dr Adeley told Preston Coroner’s Court as Jay’s family sat in silence: “We can’t find them.
“They have stopped responding to phone calls.
“When drugs are involved in a death, the witnesses are less than forthcoming and do not wish to speak to the authorities.”
Coroner’s officer Alice Swarbrick also revealed extensive attempts to trace other witnesses, including Qassim who the Met Police were unable to locate.
Jay’s dad Warren told the court: “The two people who can put some light on whatever happened to Jay aren’t in court today.”
And mum Debbie later pleaded for the coroner to do more to bring the necessary witnesses to court.
She said: “I know you tried to locate them but how can we ever get any understanding? We know he died, we know he had an accident, but from him leaving that holiday resort to going up there.
Why the inquest farce is more pain for Jay’s family
by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital)
AS I stood in the sweltering, remote mountains of Masca I was told the news Jay Slater’s loved ones dreaded – his body had been found.
But for his devastated family, it didn’t bring the closure they so desperately needed.
Now almost a year on, his grief-stricken mum, dad and brother have been subjected to yet more torment as an inquest into his death dredged up painful details of his disappearance – while lacking any actual answers.
Jay’s courageous mum Debbie Duncan opened up to me just weeks after his body was found about how she was tortured by not knowing what happened to her beloved son before he fell to his death.
I was humbled by the bravery she showed in the face of living every parent’s worst nightmare on the world stage – relentlessly hounded by mindless trolls.
Spineless witnesses failing to turn up to the hearing to provide crucial information is a kick in the teeth for Debbie and his already suffering family.
The 19-year-old went missing 11 months ago, and his body tragically discovered 29 days later.
So why after all these months has the court failed to bring together vital witnesses – including the two friends he was on holiday with?
After months and months of battling through their grief, the last thing Jay’s family needed was to face a farce of a hearing without the necessary witnesses.
“We read the statements. There are things that we want to question. We want these people in front of us.
“My son went on holiday and didn’t come back so there are questions we need to ask. Please.”
Dr Adeley paused the hearing before adjourning it until a later date, likely in a couple of months.
Qassim was previously jailed for nine years in 2015 as the ringleader of a London-based gang dealing heroin and crack cocaine in Cardiff.
He and another Brit previously known only as “Rocky” had rented the Airbnb in the remote Tenerife mountains that they took Jay back to after the festival.
Jay posted a final Snapchat picture of himself smoking on the doorstep of the apartment at 7.30am on June 17 before leaving shortly after.
Jay, right, with friend Brad who he travelled to Tenerife with
Louis WoodJay’s devastated mum Debbie beside his grave[/caption]
Ian WhittakerFlowers left by Jay’s family near to near he fell to his death[/caption]
Louis WoodJay died from a a traumatic head injury after falling[/caption]
What happened to Jay Slater?
JAY Slater flew to the Spanish island last June to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas with two friends, Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves.
The teen travelled to an Airbnb apartment in Masca with two men – including convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim – in the early hours of June 17.
Jay posted a final Snapchat picture of himself smoking on the doorstep of the apartment at 7.30am on June 17 before leaving at around 8am.
Jay, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, made a heartbreaking final call to friend Lucy saying he had cut his leg, was lost, dehydrated and had just one per cent battery on his phone after he left the Airbnb.
He was attempting the treacherous 10-hour walk back to his apartment in Los Cristianos when he called Lucy to say he was lost.
DCI Rachel Higson, head of digital media investigations at Lancashire Police, told the hearing today that Jay’s phone recorded “a lot of steps and inclines” between 7.59am and 8.49am.
His mobile last pinged in the mountainous Rural de Teno Park after Jay walked the wrong way from the Airbnb, and DCI Higson said there was “no data recorded” after 8.49:51am.
After a month-long search, Jay’s body was found in a ravine on July 15 last year – near to where his phone last pinged.
A post-mortem examination concluded he died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height.
Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd today told the inquest Jay suffered a “heavy fall from height” and the “devastating” effects would have been “immediate”.