Jay slater inquest dramatically halted after big development

The inquest into the death of Jay Slater, a 19 year old bricklayer from Lancashire, has been abruptly paused after contact was finally made with a key witness. The proceedings are taking

place at Preston Coroner's Court today (May 21). Jay was discovered deceased in the Juan Lopez ravine in Tenerife on July 15 last year, following a month-long search. He had been

enjoying the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas with friends before travelling north to an Airbnb in the secluded village of Masca in the early hours of June 17. He then departed

the property on foot and subsequently went missing in the Rural Parc de Teno. This morning, the inquest heard that three crucial witnesses could not be located prior to today's hearing,

reports the Manchester Evening News. Coroner's officer Alice Swarbrick stated that police had tried to serve a witness summons on Lucy Law, a friend who was with Jay in Tenerife, but

she couldn't be found. Ms Swarbrick mentioned that it is believed Lucy is currently in Tenerife. Additionally, Brad Hargreaves, another friend who was with Jay in Tenerife last June, is

thought to be on a holiday booked last October, Ms Swarbrick added. Neither could be found by police before today's hearing, senior coroner Dr James Adeley confirmed. Police have also

been unsuccessful in locating a third key witness - Ayub Qassim, who rented out the Airbnb in Masca where Jay stayed after the festival. Despite efforts by the Metropolitan Police to locate

him, officers were unable to find him, the inquest heard. However, just after midday, the coroner briefly paused proceedings following reported contact with one of the three absent

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