Latest news with #BradleyGeoghegan
Sky News
5 days ago
- Sky News
Jay Slater took ecstasy and cocaine before he went missing - but did not steal a Rolex watch, inquest hears
British teenager Jay Slater had taken ecstasy, cocaine and possibly ketamine - but did not steal a Rolex watch as he claimed on Snapchat - the night before he went missing in Tenerife, an inquest into his death has heard. Bradley Geoghegan, who was on holiday with Mr Slater on the Spanish island, said the 19-year-old had also been drinking alcohol before he was last seen on 17 June last year. Mr Slater's disappearance sparked a huge search until his body was eventually found by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard in a ravine near the village of Masca around four weeks later on 15 July. Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said in May that a post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries, and Mr Slater's body showed no evidence of restraint or assault, with the pattern of injuries consistent with a fall from a height. The teenager, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas on 16 June. During the night out he was forced to leave a nightclub for being too drunk. However, instead of going back to the apartment he shared with Mr Geoghegan, he went to an Airbnb miles away in the northern village of Masca with two men they had met on the holiday. The next morning Mr Geoghegan said he got a video call from Mr Slater, who was walking along a road and was still "under the influence", Preston Coroner's Court heard. Mr Geoghegan said: "I said put your maps on to see how far you were. It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive. I said, 'Get a taxi back', then he just goes, 'I will ring you back'." He added that did not think his friend had any money on him, and taxis in Tenerife insisted on payment up front before carrying a fare. The inquest into Mr Slater's death had begun in May but was adjourned the same day. Dr James Adeley, a senior coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, made the decision after a number of witnesses who had been asked to give evidence could not be traced or were unable to attend. The adjournment allowed for time to trace the witnesses who had been with him in the hours before he vanished. Witness says Slater didn't steal watch This includes Ayub Qassim - one of the two men staying in the Airbnb that Mr Slater travelled back to. Mr Qassim said he and Steven Roccas, the second man staying in the Airbnb, met Mr Slater and his friends out in Tenerife. He added that Mr Slater asked if he could come back to his and Mr Roccas' apartment on the night before he went missing. Mr Qassim, giving evidence via videolink, told the hearing: "I did say, 'Bro, oh mate, it's so far away from the strip.' There's nothing happening there other than scenery. I said I would drop him off in the morning. He rolled with us." The coroner then asked Mr Qassim about messages Mr Slater had sent about a watch possibly being stolen. Mr Qassim said while still on the strip before leaving for their apartment he saw what he described as a Romanian "Lucky-lucky" man take a watch from another person and tried to sell it to him and Mr Slater. He added: "Jay did not steal no watch. I can say 100%." While on the drive to the Airbnb Mr Slater then posted a message to friends on social media, saying: "Just took a 12k Rolly (Rolex) off some c*** with this Maili (Somalian) kid. Off to get 10 quid (thousand) for it. Off my undies ha, ha, ha." Coroner Dr Adeley asked the witness: "You were not involved in taking a watch?" Mr Qassim replied: "No. And neither was he." He said when they got to his Airbnb he gave Mr Slater a blanket and pillow and told him he could sleep on the sofa before going off to his own bed. Slater said he 'cut his leg on a cactus' Lucy Law, who had to be traced along with Mr Geoghegan and Mr Qassim after the inquest was adjourned in May, was next to speak at the hearing and said Mr Slater was "definitely on a buzz... but not visibly mangled" the night before he went missing. Ms Law said Mr Slater told her "there's no way I'm going home" after she suggested it. She is believed to be the last person to have had contact with the teenager after she spoke to him on a 22-second call on the morning he went missing. He is believed to have said he had cut his leg on a cactus and got lost in the mountains. His phone battery was also said to be on 1% at this point. Meanwhile, the coroner's officer Alice Swarbrick said she was unable to get in touch with Mr Slater's friend Brandon Hodgson and Mr Roccas so that they could give evidence at the inquest.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- The Guardian
Jay Slater consumed drugs and alcohol before attempting long walk, inquest told
The British teenager Jay Slater had taken drugs and alcohol and had a 14-hour walk to his accommodation before his disappearance sparked a four-week search in Tenerife, an inquest into his death heard. The 19-year-old had taken ecstasy pills, cocaine and possibly ketamine, along with alcohol, before he went to an Airbnb with two strangers, one of his friends told a court on Thursday. Bradley Geoghegan, who had gone on holiday with Slater, said Slater had video-called him after he left the apartment on the morning of 17 June last year. 'I said, 'put your maps on to see how far you were',' Geoghegan told Preston coroner's court. 'It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive. I said, 'Get a taxi back', then he just goes, 'I will ring you back.'' The witness said he did not think his friend had any money on him, and taxis in Tenerife insisted on payment upfront before carrying a fare. Geoghegan said he did not believe Slater was fearful or under duress. 'No. I think he probably got there and thought, 'Why am I here?', sobered up and decided to come back,' he said. Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was holidaying on the Spanish island and had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo Tenerife nightclub in the resort district of Playa de las Américas. He vanished the morning after going to the Airbnb and was reported missing on 18 June. Evidence heard during the inquest suggested he had left the holiday let, and after failing to get a bus or taxi, attempted to walk back to his own apartment and had fallen from a height into a ravine. A mass search was launched before his body was found by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish civil guard, in a steep and inaccessible area near the village of Masca, on 15 July. Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, had asked for the inquest into his death to be resumed on Thursday after a number of witnesses failed to give evidence at the last hearing in May. On the night out he had received phone messages from friends telling him to go home as he was 'off his head'. More messages from friends warned him about the 'boiling' heat of the day, but activity data on his phone stopped at 8.51am, suggesting his phone battery had run out. The hearing in May had heard evidence from witnesses including a toxicology expert. The court was told analysis showed traces of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, along with alcohol, were found in Slater's body. The Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said his postmortem examination gave Slater's cause of death as head injuries. His body showed no evidence of restraint or assault, with the pattern of injuries consistent with a fall from a height.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Jay Slater 'did not seem threatened', friend tells inquest
One of the last people to speak to Jay Slater said the 19-year-old did not seem threatened as he made his way home from an Airbnb he had gone to with two men he had met in a nightclub in Tenerife, an inquest has Slater, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, went missing on the Spanish island on 17 June 2024, shortly after speaking to his friend Bradley Geoghegan on the by coroner Dr James Adeley if Mr Slater "seemed fearful or under duress", Mr Geoghehan said: "No," adding he had "probably... sobered up and decided to come back".A huge search was launched, and his body was found in a ravine near the village of Masca on 15 July. The inquest heard he had taken drugs and alcohol on a night out and had a 14-hour walk Geoghegan, who had gone on holiday with Mr Slater, said his friend had taken ecstasy pills, and possibly ketamine, along with cocaine and alcohol, on the night out before he disappeared. The court heard Mr Slater had been forced to leave a nightclub because he was so drunk and instead of going back to the apartment he shared with Mr Geoghegan, he went to an Airbnb, miles away, with two men they had met on the next morning Mr Geoghegan said he got a video call from Mr Slater, who was walking along a road and was still "under the influence", the inquest Geoghegan said: "I said put your maps on to see how far you were. It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive. "I said, 'Get a taxi back', then he just goes, 'I will ring you back'."The witness said he did not think his friend had any money on him, and taxis in Tenerife insisted on payment up front before carrying a Dr James Adeley asked the witness: "Did you get the impression he was in any way threatened or fearful, or under duress in a difficult situation?"Mr Geoghegan replied: "No. I think he probably got there and thought, 'Why am I here?', sobered up and decided to come back."Mr Slater, had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas, on 16 June last Slater vanished the morning after going to the Airbnb and was reported missing to Spanish police on 18 heard during the inquest suggested he had left the holiday let, and after failing to get a bus or taxi, attempted to walk back to his own apartment and had fallen from a height into a ravine.A huge search was launched before his body was found by a mountain rescue team almost a month later. 'No evidence of assault' Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, had asked for the inquest into the death to be resumed on Thursday after a number of witnesses did not attend the last hearing in Adeley agreed to adjourn the inquest to trace the witnesses, those who had been with him in the hours before he hearing in May heard from a number of witnesses, including toxicology expert Dr Stephanie court heard analysis showed traces of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, along with alcohol, were found in Mr Slater's Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said his post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries, and Mr Slater's body showed no evidence of restraint or assault, with the pattern of injuries consistent with a fall from a height. 'Off his head' Det Ch Insp Rachel Higson, from Lancashire Constabulary, said police had analysed Mr Slater's phone the night out he had received phone messages from friends telling him to go home as he was "off his head".Phone location data suggested Mr Slater had travelled to the Airbnb and the next morning and left the property at about from Spanish witnesses said they were approached and asked by Mr Slater about buses or taxis to take him messages from friends warned him about the "boiling" heat of the day, but activity data on his phone stopped at 08:51, suggesting his phone battery had died. The next witness, Ayub Qassim, said he and a friend, Steven Roccas, met Mr Slater and his friends out in said he had been in a different venue then later met Mr Slater and Mr Geoghegan getting something to eat after the clubs said Mr Slater asked if he could come back to his and Mr Roccas' Qassim, giving evidence via videolink, told the hearing: "I did say, 'Bro, oh mate, it's so far away from the strip'."There's nothing happening there other than scenery. I said I would drop him off in the morning. He rolled with us." 'Did not steal' The coroner then asked the witness about messages Mr Slater had sent about a watch possibly being inquest was shown a Snapchat video featuring a short clip of a car dashboard with a caption referring to taking a "12k rolly" and being off to "get 10 quid for it".He added: "Jay did not steal no watch. I can say one hundred per cent."Asked to explain the social media post by Mr Slater, the witness said: "He could be boasting to his friends. He's on a buzz, so maybe it could be that. Sometimes people do exaggerate."The coroner said: "But so far as you are concerned, none of that is true?"Mr Qassim said: "No. One hundred per cent. I didn't see a watch. At this point he's just firing off messages."He said when they got to his Airbnb he gave Mr Slater a blanket and pillow and told him he could sleep on the sofa before going off to his own bed. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
British teen who went missing in Tenerife had taken drugs and was 14-hour walk from home
British teenager Jay Slater, who went missing in Tenerife last summer before his body was found in a ravine, had taken drugs and alcohol on a night out and had a 14-hour walk home, the inquest into his death heard. Bradley Geoghegan, who had gone on holiday with Mr Slater, said the 19-year-old had taken ecstasy pills, and possibly ketamine, along with cocaine and alcohol, on the night out before he disappeared. Advertisement Mr Slater, who had earlier been forced to leave a nightclub because he was so drunk, instead of going back to the apartment he shared with Mr Geoghegan, went to an Airbnb, miles away, with two men they had met on the holiday. The next morning Mr Geoghegan said he got a video call from Mr Slater, who was walking along a road and was still 'under the influence', Preston Coroner's Court in England heard. A police officer overlooks the village of Masca, Tenerife, where the search was taking place (James Manning/PA) Mr Geoghegan said: 'I said put your maps on to see how far you were. It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive. I said, 'Get a taxi back', then he just goes, 'I will ring you back'.' The witness said he did not think his friend had any money on him, and taxis in Tenerife insisted on payment up front before carrying a fare. Advertisement Coroner Dr James Adeley asked the witness: 'Did you get the impression he was in any way threatened or fearful, or under duress in a difficult situation?' Mr Geoghegan replied: 'No. I think he probably got there and thought, 'Why am I here?', sobered up and decided to come back.' Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was holidaying on the Spanish island and had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas, on June 16th last year. Mr Slater vanished the morning after going to the Airbnb and was reported missing on June 18th. Advertisement A group of search and rescue workers near Masca (James Manning/PA) Evidence heard during the inquest suggested he had left the holiday let, and after failing to get a bus or taxi, attempted to walk back to his own apartment and had fallen from a height into a ravine. A huge search was launched before his body was found in a steep and inaccessible area, by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard, near the village of Masca, on July 15th. Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan had asked for the inquest into the death to be resumed on Thursday after a number of witnesses failed to give evidence at the last hearing in May. She said Mr Slater's family still had questions about their loved one's death that needed answers. Advertisement Dr Adeley agreed to adjourn the inquest until Thursday to trace the witnesses, those who had been with him in the hours before he vanished. The hearing in May heard from a number of witnesses, including toxicology expert Dr Stephanie Martin. Emergency workers near the village of Masca (James/Manning/PA) The court heard analysis showed traces of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, along with alcohol, were found in Mr Slater's body. Pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said his postmortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries, and Mr Slater's body showed no evidence of restraint or assault, with the pattern of injuries consistent with a fall from a height. Advertisement Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Higson, from Lancashire Constabulary, said police had analysed Mr Slater's phone data. On the night out he had received phone messages from friends telling him to go home as he was 'off his head'. Phone location data suggested Mr Slater had travelled to the Airbnb and the next morning left the property at about 7.45am. Statements from Spanish witnesses said they were approached and asked by Mr Slater about buses or taxis to take him home. More messages from friends warned him about the 'boiling' heat of the day, but activity data on his phone stopped at 8.51am, suggesting his phone battery had died. Marieke Krans from Dutch rescue charity Signi Zoekhonden, which uses dogs, helped in the search. She said the area where the body was found was about a three-and-a-half-hour walk from the Airbnb and was 'really steep, really dangerous', and it was 'easy' to lose your footing.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Tenerife teenager Jay Slater had taken drugs and was a 14-hour walk from home
Tenerife teenager Jay Slater had taken drugs and was a 14-hour walk from home Teenager Jay Slater, who went missing in Tenerife last summer, sparking a huge search, before his body was found in a ravine, had taken drugs and alcohol on a night out and had a 14-hour walk home, the inquest into his death heard. Bradley Geoghegan, who had gone on holiday with Mr Slater, said the 19-year-old had taken ecstasy pills, and possibly ketamine, along with cocaine and alcohol, on the night out before he disappeared. Mr Slater, who had earlier been forced to leave a nightclub because he was so drunk, instead of going back to the apartment he shared with Mr Geoghegan, went to an Airbnb, miles away, with two men they had met on the holiday. The next morning Mr Geoghegan said he got a video call from Mr Slater, who was walking along a road and was still 'under the influence', Preston Coroner's Court heard. A police officer overlooks the village of Masca, Tenerife, where the search was taking place (James Manning/PA) Mr Geoghegan said: 'I said put your maps on to see how far you were. It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive. I said, 'Get a taxi back', then he just goes, 'I will ring you back'.' ADVERTISEMENT The witness said he did not think his friend had any money on him, and taxis in Tenerife insisted on payment up front before carrying a fare. Coroner Dr James Adeley asked the witness: 'Did you get the impression he was in any way threatened or fearful, or under duress in a difficult situation?' Mr Geoghegan replied: 'No. I think he probably got there and thought, 'Why am I here?', sobered up and decided to come back.' Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was holidaying on the Spanish island and had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas, on June 16 last year. Mr Slater vanished the morning after going to the Airbnb and was reported missing on June 18. A group of search and rescue workers near Masca (James Manning/PA) Evidence heard during the inquest suggested he had left the holiday let, and after failing to get a bus or taxi, attempted to walk back to his own apartment and had fallen from a height into a ravine. ADVERTISEMENT A huge search was launched before his body was found in a steep and inaccessible area, by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard, near the village of Masca, on July 15. Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan had asked for the inquest into the death to be resumed on Thursday after a number of witnesses failed to give evidence at the last hearing in May. She said Mr Slater's family still had questions about their loved one's death that needed answers. Dr Adeley agreed to adjourn the inquest until Thursday to trace the witnesses, those who had been with him in the hours before he vanished. The hearing in May heard from a number of witnesses, including toxicology expert Dr Stephanie Martin. Emergency workers near the village of Masca (James/Manning/PA) The court heard analysis showed traces of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, along with alcohol, were found in Mr Slater's body. ADVERTISEMENT Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said his post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries, and Mr Slater's body showed no evidence of restraint or assault, with the pattern of injuries consistent with a fall from a height. Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Higson, from Lancashire Constabulary, said police had analysed Mr Slater's phone data. On the night out he had received phone messages from friends telling him to go home as he was 'off his head'. Phone location data suggested Mr Slater had travelled to the Airbnb and the next morning left the property at about 7.45am. Statements from Spanish witnesses said they were approached and asked by Mr Slater about buses or taxis to take him home. More messages from friends warned him about the 'boiling' heat of the day, but activity data on his phone stopped at 8.51am, suggesting his phone battery had died. ADVERTISEMENT Marieke Krans from Dutch rescue charity Signi Zoekhonden, which uses dogs, helped in the search. She said the area where the body was found was about a three-and-a-half-hour walk from the Airbnb and was 'really steep, really dangerous', and it was 'easy' to lose your footing. The next witness, Ayub Qassim, said he and a friend, Steven Roccas, met Mr Slater and his friends out in Tenerife. He said he had been in a different venue then later met Mr Slater and Mr Geoghegan getting something to eat after the clubs closed. Mr Qassim described Mr Slater as: 'On a buzz. Chilled, happy. Mingling in'it.' He said Mr Slater asked if he could come back to his and Mr Roccas' apartment. Mr Qassim, giving evidence via videolink, told the hearing: 'I did say, 'Bro, oh mate, it's so far away from the strip.' There's nothing happening there other than scenery. I said I would drop him off in the morning. He rolled with us.' The coroner then asked the witness about messages Mr Slater had sent about possibly a watch being stolen. Mr Qassim said while still on the strip before leaving for their apartment he saw what he described as a Romanian, 'Lucky-lucky' man take a watch from another person and tried to sell it to him and Mr Slater. He added: 'Jay did not steal no watch. I can say one hundred per cent.' While on the drive to the Airbnb Mr Slater then posted a message to friends on social media, saying: 'Just took a 12k Rolly (Rolex) off some c*** with this Maili (Somalian) kid. Off to get 10 quid (thousand) for it. Off my undies ha, ha, ha.' Coroner Dr Adeley asked the witness: 'You were not involved in taking a watch?' Mr Qassim replied: 'No. And neither was he.' Asked to explain the social media post by Mr Slater, the witness said: 'He could be boasting to his friends. He's on a buzz, so maybe it could be that. Sometimes people do exaggerate.' The coroner continued: 'But so far as you are concerned, none of that is true?' Mr Qassim said: 'No. One hundred per cent. I didn't see a watch. At this point he's just firing off messages.' He said when they got to his Airbnb he gave Mr Slater a blanket and pillow and told him he could sleep on the sofa before going off to his own bed.
