**Family Seeks Answers as Jay Slater Inquest Begins at Preston Crown Court**
Almost a year since the tragic disappearance and death of teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife, a formal inquest convened at Preston Crown Court this week, aiming to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the 19-year-old’s passing. The session, which began on 21 May, drew emotional responses from family and highlighted lingering questions that continue to trouble those closest to Jay.
Slater, a bricklaying apprentice from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, vanished in the early hours of 17 June 2024. He had travelled to the south of Tenerife to attend the NRG music festival with friends, but later journeyed north to an isolated Airbnb in the Rural Parc de Teno—considerably distant from where his companions were staying in Los Cristianos. After he left the rural property on foot, Jay disappeared, prompting a massive and highly-publicised search that lasted four weeks before his body was ultimately discovered on 15 July in the rugged Juan López ravine.
The objective of the inquest is clear: offer clarity and closure to Jay’s grieving relatives by establishing a detailed account of what led to his untimely death. However, after just four hours, proceedings were adjourned, leaving several pressing issues unresolved. This has done little to ease the nerves of the Slater family, who have long sought definitive answers as to what happened during Jay’s final hours.
One of the most significant revelations from the courtroom centered on the fatal head injury sustained by Jay. According to Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd, Slater’s injury from the fall would have rendered him “immediately unconscious”. Dr Shepherd explained, “Jay suffered several injuries, but the injury to the head is by far the most significant in understanding why he died.” This testimony has been pivotal, as it rules out the likelihood of a prolonged or painful demise.
The court also confronted the challenge of missing witnesses. Key among them was Ayub Qassim—also known by the nickname “Johnny Vegas”—who had rented the Airbnb Jay visited after the festival. Despite a determined effort by the coroner’s office, including police involvement, Mr Qassim has yet to be located or brought before the inquest. The absence of several witnesses, including Jay’s friends Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves, has further complicated matters. Both were in Tenerife at the time, but attempts to reach them have proven fruitless, leaving gaps in the timeline of Jay’s last known movements.
Notably, reports of a missing watch have added intrigue to the inquiry. Friend Josh Forshaw claimed in court that Jay had confessed to having taken a valuable Rolex—worth an estimated £12,000—not long before he disappeared. In a message to Forshaw, Jay purportedly admitted to having a luxury watch strap which he intended to sell for “a tenner”—slang for £10,000. The implication of theft just prior to Jay’s disappearance is yet another lead pursued by investigators, and the veracity of these claims remains under consideration.
Toxicology also featured in the day’s hearing, with conflicting reports emerging from both British and Spanish authorities. Dr Stephanie Martin, a toxicologist from the UK, stated that traces of MDMA (ecstasy) and a cocaine metabolite were discovered in Jay’s system, implying consumption within a day of his death. Spanish investigators, however, found ketamine present in addition to other substances. Dr Martin suggested that divergence in timings between the two post-mortem examinations could explain the discrepancies.
Another concern raised in court was the inaccessibility of Jay’s closest friends who accompanied him to Tenerife. The coroner acknowledged the inability to locate Lucy Law or Brad Hargreaves, despite significant attempts, stating, “We can’t find them. They have denied who they are and police have been looking for them.” This has heightened frustration for the family, anxious to capture the complete picture of events. The court heard that on the morning Slater vanished, he had video called Hargreaves, claiming he lacked funds for a taxi back—a detail which may be crucial to understanding what drove his movements that fateful morning.
Despite the wealth of information discussed, the session was paused by coroner Dr James Adeley just after 3.30pm, with a resumption date yet to be set. The Slater family, meanwhile, awaits additional opportunities to uncover the truth and achieve some measure of closure.
As the investigation continues, the case has underscored the complexities involved in cross-jurisdictional inquests, with language, legal and procedural differences all potentially affecting the pursuit of justice. For now, Jay Slater’s loved ones are left to hope that future hearings will finally bring the answers they seek, transforming confusion and speculation into a clearer understanding of one young man’s final journey.