Two men who accompanied Jay Slater to an Airbnb before his tragic death have spoken publicly for the first time, insisting that the young Briton died in a tragic accident.
Ayub Qassim, a man with a previous drug conviction, and his holiday companion, known as “Rocky”, addressed questions and conspiracy theories surrounding the disappearance of the 19-year-old Lancashire lad during a YouTube live broadcast.
Qassim stated, “If I’m guilty, then arrest me. What are you on about? When you’re telling the truth, you don’t slip up”.
The pair were among the last to see Jay before he vanished on 17 June. They had travelled with him to a remote village called Masca after a night of partying at the Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas.
Jay went missing after leaving the £40-per-night Airbnb, prompting a massive four-week search. His body was discovered on 15 July, with Spanish authorities reporting multiple injuries consistent with a fall in the mountainous terrain.
Initially questioned by local police, Qassim and Rocky were deemed “irrelevant” to the case and allowed to return to the UK. They have now taken to social media to address public queries.
Qassim explained that Jay had asked to accompany them to the Airbnb. He said, “No one took no-one, bro. He invited himself. Think, bro, use your head”.
When asked about allegations of violence, Qassim firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating, “No, of course not. Mate, what do you reckon happened to him? He had a tragic accident, you know what it’s like”.
The men also addressed rumours about a stolen watch and Jay’s apparent fear when leaving the apartment. Qassim claimed ignorance of Jay’s state of mind, saying, “I don’t know why he was scared and he ain’t here to answer that question”.
Qassim also addressed his past, stating, “Everyone’s calling me a dealer. I was 19, I’m 30 now”.
In a surprising revelation, Qassim claimed that a “detective guy” had told him Jay was carrying two knives. “That’s even more mental like the guy had two knives on him. Like we was in danger, let alone, but no-one’s saying anything about that”, he said.
Rocky, who had been largely silent, briefly interjected to say he had been drunk and asleep in the car for much of the time in question.
It is believed that Jay died instantly following a fall in the treacherous terrain. A preliminary autopsy revealed several broken bones.
Jay’s family remains in Tenerife as they await the repatriation of his body. A GoFundMe appeal has raised over £70,000 to cover costs associated with bringing Jay home and his funeral.
