Major stumbling block in Jay Slater case could prevent tragic mystery being solved

A coroner in Preston, Lancashire, has adjourned the inquest into the death of 19-year-old Jay Slater

A major stumbling block in the Jay Slater case could prevent his family from ever finding out what happened to him, it is feared.

A vital inquest into the 19-year-old's death in Tenerife was adjourned last week at the request of his mum Debbie, who said it must not go ahead until multiple key witnesses are tracked down to give evidence. It included her son's friend Lucy Law, who is reported to currently be holidaying on the island, as well as Brandon Hodges and Bradley Hargreaves. Ayub Qassim and Steven Roccas, who rented an Airbnb that Jay visited just hours before his death and were not present at the inquest.

In what could prove a major obstacle in the Slater family's search for answers, police have now admitted they have no power to force any witnesses to attend the inquest.

Lancashire Police said: "We supported the coroner by making extensive efforts to contact a number of witnesses, 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.", reports the Mirror.

It is thought all five of them could hold vital information that might help piece together what happened to Jay before in the hours before he died.

The British teen was reported missing after attending a music festival on June 17 last year. His body was sadly discovered in a Tenerife ravine 29 days later.

It is thought that Jay, who was last seen alive at an Airbnb in Masca village, may have attempted the lengthy walk home after missing a bus—a trek that would take nearly 11 hours. Lucy Law, a friend holidaying with Jay in Tenerife when he vanished, is reportedly back on the island vacationing, unaware of the ongoing inquest, according to her stepfather Andy Davis.

Brad Hargreaves, present at the music festival with the group, is also believed to be on holiday currently. Another friend, Brandon, spotted with Jay at a pool party, did not appear at the inquest but has previously engaged with police enquiries.

The inquest is yet to hear from Ayub Qassim and Steven Roccas, who were renting the Airbnb where Jay was last seen. Home Office pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd, informed Preston Crown Court last Wednesday that significant decomposition had set in by the time he examined Jay's body, indicating a head injury as the cause of death.

Dr Shepherd suggested at the inquest that with such a severe injury, it was highly unlikely Jay would have survived even with immediate neurosurgical intervention, stating: "The injury is so severe that death was either instantaneous or extremely quick."

The Spanish authorities have earlier determined that Jay died from a severe traumatic brain injury.