Jay Slater died in Tenerife but two ‘key witnesses’, Lucy Law and Brad Geoghegan, did not turn up to his inquest

09:36, 22 May 2025Updated 09:43, 22 May 2025

Jay Slater with Lucy Law

A key witness in the Jay Slater tragedy had ‘no idea’ an inquest into his death was being held, her family has claimed.

The hearing in Preston was dramatically halted on Wednesday so further attempts could be made to track down two witnesses after Jay’s mum pleaded with a coroner to ‘bring these people in front of us.’

Jay, 19, disappeared in Tenerife after flying to the Spanish island for the NRG music festival on June 16 last year with pals Brad Geoghegan and Lucy Law. Jay stayed out afterwards while Lucy and Brad returned to their hotel.

In the hours that followed, Jay sent a number of concerning texts and Snapchat messages to his friends including one which included a picture of two knives concealed down his shorts with the caption ‘in case it kicks off.’

In another message he claimed to have ‘taken’ a watch from ‘two Mali kids’ and was on his way to sell it for £10,000.

After being reported as missing, Jay’s body was found in a mountainous ravine which is around a three and-a-half hour walk from Masca.

The inquest, which started on Wednesday at Preston Coroner’s Court but has now been adjourned, heard Jay had suffered a severe brain injury, which he would have been unlikely to survive even with specialist medical treatment.

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The inquest heard several witnesses were not able to give evidence, including Jay’s friend Lucy, who is believed to be in Tenerife, and Brad, who had informed the coroner’s office that he would be on holiday which he had booked last October.

Jay Slater with Lucy Law

And the two men who had been the last to see Jay, Ayub Qassim and Steven Roccas, “could not be located” despite extensive efforts to find them, the inquest heard.

But last night, Ms Law’s family said she wasn’t aware the inquest was due to take place.

Jay’s mum arrives at the court(Image: CHRIS NEILL)

Speaking at the family home in Burnley on Wednesday night, Lucy’s stepfather Andy Davis told the Daily Mail: “We had no idea Jay’s inquest was even being held today.

“The police have only just been round today to say that she was due to give evidence. But it’s the first time we knew of it.

“They asked if Lucy was home and I said she was abroad and they asked me if I was aware that she should have been in court, and I said I wasn’t.

“The police said they had sent Lucy paperwork with the dates on it, but the first I knew about it was when the police turned up earlier today.”

Sources within the Slater family, meanwhile, said they were aware where other missing witnesses were and were able to find out easily.

The family source told The Mail: “Lucy is in Tenerife. Another supposedly untraceable witness is on holiday in Greece. If we can find this out so quickly why can’t the police?”

The coroner, Dr James Adeley, indicated that the inquest into Jay’s death would likely resume “in a month or two”.