The Jay Slater inquest has officially concluded more than a year after the 19-year-old disappeared in Tenerife. On the final day of proceedings, the court heard new claims surrounding a stolen Rolex watch.
Jay Slater, a bricklaying apprentice from Lancashire, went missing on June 17, 2024, while trying to return from a remote Airbnb in Masca. He had been attending a music festival in Playa de las Americas before heading north with two men. A month later, on July 15, his body was found in a steep ravine.
During the inquest, one of Jay’s friends told the court that Jay claimed he had taken a watch and intended to sell it. He reportedly shared Snapchat messages saying he had stolen a Rolex or a luxury watch, but the brand name varied in each message.
Brad Geoghegan, a close friend, said Jay mentioned the watch while staying at the Airbnb with two men known as Ayub and “Rocky.” Brad said he didn’t think much of it at the time, explaining that many fake watches are sold in tourist areas.
However, Ayub Qassim, one of the men Jay stayed with, denied any theft. He said Jay likely exaggerated or was showing off in the messages. The court heard that Jay’s friends were under the influence of alcohol and drugs during their trip, which may have clouded their memories.
The coroner reviewed all the claims and ruled that the watch story had no impact on Jay’s death. “I consider that the watch is irrelevant to subsequent events,” he said.
Toxicology tests revealed Jay had taken MDMA, cocaine, ketamine, and alcohol before his death. The coroner stated these substances, along with dehydration, lack of sleep, and poor judgement, likely contributed to his fatal fall.
Jay died instantly from brain trauma after falling 20–25 metres in the rugged terrain. The coroner ruled the cause of death as accidental and confirmed no third party was involved.
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