Ayub Qassim, who was one of the last people to see Jay Slater alive in Tenerife, has addressed the conspiracy theories about the teenager's final moments online.
19-year-old apprentice bricklayer, Jay, had been on holiday with friends in Tenerife when he vanished on the morning of Monday, 17 June. He had travelled back to an Airbnb rented by Qassim in the remote Masca region earlier in the morning, before attempting to make the walk back to his accommodation in Los Cristianos.
An extensive search took place across the island in the weeks following, with Jay's remains being discovered on 15 July in a remote ravine.
Authorities would later confirm that the injuries found on Jay's body were compatible with an accidental fall.
Advert
Despite officials in Tenerife confirming that they believe Jay died as the result of an accidental fall, conspiracy theories around his death have continued to circulate online - with many people accusing Qassim, also known by the name of 'Johnny Vegas', of being involved.
Qassim has now come forward to set the record straight in a live video on YouTube, addressing theories including the one that Jay had 'stolen' a Rolex watch.
"If I'm guilty then arrest me then, what are you on about," a defiant Qassim said during the broadcast.
"When you’re telling the truth you don’t slip up."
Qassim and a friend of his, who goes by the name of 'Rocky', were the last people to see Jay in person after he travelled back to their Airbnb in the remote Masca region.
They were initially detained for questioning by Spanish police after his disappearance, but were later released and allowed to travel back to the UK after being deemed 'irrelevant' by police.
Addressing why Jay had travelled back to the Airbnb with the pair, Qassim said the teenager had asked for a place to stay after not having keys for his accommodation.
"He looked at me and said ‘bro I ain't got the keys to my place, them lot are gone back, left and that, can I roll with you man?’ He asked me bro I didn’t invite no-one," Qassim said.
"Bro I don’t know why he was scared that’s in his own head. I can tell you how I’m feeling and what I’m going through."
When asked about the theories that Jay had stolen a Rolex and if he was carrying knives with him, Qassim was quick to call the rumours out as false.
"No one took my watch, bro. Why the f*** would I invite someone who took my watch back to mine so they can sleep on the sofa, what are you on about? Bro, don’t you help people, do you know what I’m saying," he said, adding that 'he didn't know why' Jay would've left the apartment scared.
He also urged people to leave Jay's friends Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves alone, adding: "Everyone needs to relax like, leave Lucy alone, cos, to be fair, Lucy was the first one at my yard saying 'yo, like, I'm looking for him, where is he?'
"People do like listening to drama."
Topics: Jay Slater, UK News, YouTube, Conspiracy Theory
Brenna Cooper