In what was supposed to bring closure for the family of 19-year-old Jay Slater, the inquest into his tragic death has instead turned into a painful waiting game.
Despite months of anticipation and preparation, key witnesses failed to appear—leaving both the coroner and Jay’s grieving mother, Debbie Duncan, without the answers they so desperately need.
A Mother’s Plea Brings Proceedings to a Halt
The inquest was dramatically halted mid-hearing when Debbie Duncan stood before the court, emotionally pleading for time to find the missing witnesses.
Through tears, she begged:
“There’s things we want to question. We want these people to be sat in front of us. Something went wrong that day.”
Debbie’s heartbreak was palpable, and the court responded with compassion.
Senior coroner Dr. James Adeley agreed to pause the proceedings, acknowledging the family’s anguish.
But he was clear-eyed about the challenges ahead, warning that he wasn’t optimistic about successfully tracking down the missing individuals.
Police Powerless to Act
Lancashire Police, who have been supporting the inquest, admitted that they’ve exhausted their options.
A spokesperson revealed that although they reached out extensively to possible witnesses—both locally and abroad—they simply lack the legal authority to compel anyone outside the UK to appear.
“We have no jurisdiction in such circumstances,” the spokesperson said, expressing sympathy for the Slater family while reiterating their commitment to support the coroner’s efforts.
Key Witnesses Still Missing
Among the people sought by the court are Ayub Qassim—a convicted drug dealer—and Steven Roccas, both of whom were staying at the Airbnb Jay visited before his disappearance.
Others include Lucy Law, Brandon Hodges, and Bradley Geoghegan.
None of them responded to summonses or police contact attempts.
Lucy Law is especially critical to the investigation.
She was reportedly the last person to speak with Jay during a desperate phone call where he said he was lost, had just 1% battery left, and needed water.
The Tragic Timeline of Jay’s Disappearance
Jay had flown to Tenerife for a holiday and attended the NRG music festival with friends.
On June 16, he was partying at the Papagayo nightclub.
By the early hours of June 17, he left with people he’d recently met and ended up at an Airbnb in the remote village of Masca.
That morning, he reportedly decided to walk back to his accommodation—a 10-hour journey through harsh, mountainous terrain—after missing a bus.
He sent a Snapchat image from outside the Airbnb at 7:30am, and soon after made the desperate calls to Lucy and Brad.
His body wasn’t found until July 15—nearly a month later—by a Spanish mountain rescue team in a rugged ravine.
Tragically, post-mortem results indicated that he died almost instantly from head trauma consistent with a fall.
A Cloud of Rumors and Drugs
The inquest heard that Jay had taken drugs before his death.
Toxicology reports found traces of cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and ketamine in his system.
One friend testified that Jay had seemed “off his head on drugs” the night before he disappeared.
There were also troubling rumors swirling around the case.
Some online conspiracy theories suggested Jay may have been involved in criminal activity—claims his family strongly denies.
One such theory revolved around an alleged stolen watch, which Jay reportedly referenced in a Snapchat message where he said he was trying to sell an “AP” watch for £10,000.
Could He Have Been Pushed?
Pathologist Dr. Richard Shepherd confirmed that Jay died from catastrophic injuries caused by a fall—but due to the body’s decomposition over 28 days, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that Jay had been pushed.
“There was nothing to indicate an assault… but a push wouldn’t leave a mark,” he clarified.
The fall caused immediate unconsciousness, and Jay likely died shortly after.
Even with immediate medical care, Dr. Shepherd said, survival would have been “extremely unlikely.”
Toxicology Adds More Questions Than Answers
Dr. Stephanie Martin, the toxicologist, explained that the decomposition made it impossible to test Jay’s blood or urine.
However, samples from his liver, hair, and muscle showed he had taken MDMA, cocaine, and ketamine.
The ketamine, she added, was likely taken within 12 hours before his death, and the MDMA up to two days prior.
Interestingly, Spanish lab tests suggested Jay may have used ketamine over a longer period, though it remains unclear whether drugs played a direct role in his fall.
A Chilling Final Message
Friend Joshua Forshaw gave chilling testimony about Jay’s final hours.
He described receiving a Snapchat message where Jay mentioned being kicked out of a rave with two others and planning to sell a stolen watch.
Another disturbing image showed Jay with two knives tucked into his waistband, claiming he was carrying them “in case it kicks off.”
Forshaw didn’t report the knife photo to Spanish police at the time but did tell Lancashire authorities after returning home, stating it felt like “the right thing to do.”
The Search for Truth Continues
The coroner has promised to issue fresh summonses and asked the family to share any contact information they might have for the missing witnesses.
The inquest will reconvene once—if—they are found.
For now, Debbie Duncan and her family must wait again, still without the full picture of what happened to Jay that fateful morning in Tenerife.