Key witnesses can’t be forced to give evidence at Jay Slater’s inquest, police have admitted.
The hearing was halted this week when the teenager’s tearful mum Debbie Duncan begged for some of those who saw him in his final hours to be called.
The 19-year-old bricklayer’s body was discovered in a ravine in Tenerife’s Rural de Teno National Park last July after a 29-day search.
He was found to have drugs and alcohol in his system before he died from a head injury, Preston coroner’s court heard on Wednesday.
But Jay’s two best pals Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves, who were on holiday with him when he vanished, did not attend the inquest.
Two men who the teenager went to an Airbnb with before he died were also absent.
Jay’s mum Debbie sobbed as she called for further efforts to trace those who might explain his death.
‘How can we ever get any understanding?’ she said.
‘There’s things we want to question. We want these people to be sat in front of us, because our son went on holiday and didn’t come back.’
But Lancashire Police have now said in a statement: ‘First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Jay’s family and friends at this distressing time.
‘We supported HM Coroner by making extensive efforts to contact a number of witnesses ahead of the inquest, 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.
‘We have no jurisdiction in such circumstances to compel someone to attend. We will continue to support the coroner ahead of the resumption of the inquest.’
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.
It is believed that in the early hours of the next day, a Monday, he went to an apartment with other people he had met while on holiday, miles from where he was staying.
He then subsequently vanished and was reported missing on June 18.
Jay had made a heartbreaking final call to friend Lucy saying he had cut his leg, was lost, dehydrated and had just one per cent battery on his phone after he left the Airbnb.
His body was not found until July 15.
A post-mortem examination concluded he died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height.
The hearing, scheduled to last one day, was told extensive efforts including summonses had been issued for several witnesses who were in contact with Mr Slater before he disappeared.
Coroner Dr James Adeley revealed Ms Law and Bradley Geoghan (also known as Brad Hargreaves), were on holiday.
Dr Adeley also said the Metropolitan Police in London had tried to locate Ayub Qassim and Steven Roccas, who were renting an AirBnB to which Mr Slater travelled in the early hours of 14 June, but neither man could be found.
Dr Adeley agreed to adjourn the hearing at Ms Duncan’s request for the witnesses to be brought to court to give evidence.
A further hearing date has yet to be set.
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