Jay Slater’s ‘Airbnb pals’ have spoken on camera for the first time. The men, who were the last to see him alive, insisted he died in a tragic accident.
Convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim and a man believed to be his holiday pal ‘Rocky’ took to YouTube on Tuesday night to tackle allegations from armchair detectives head on.
The Q&A heated up with Ayub growing infuriated at conspiracy theories that link them both to Jay’s death. In response he vented seven words of fury. “If I’m guilty then arrest me then,” Ayub raged. “When you’re telling the truth you don’t slip up.”
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After a night at Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas, Tenerife, Jay accompanied Ayub and Rocky to the secluded village of Masca. Much has been made of his final hours at their Airbnb since, but never before have the pair broken down exactly what happened before Jay walked out the door in the early hours of June 17.
(Image: Family Handout/LBT Global/PA)
He disappeared after leaving the £40-a-night Airbnb, leading to a massive four-week search. Jay’s body was tragically found on July 15. Spanish authorities said he had suffered multiple injuries consistent with a fall in the mountainous terrain.
When he first went missing Qassim and Rocky were quizzed by local police, but they were deemed “irrelevant” and allowed to return to the UK.
Convicted drug dealer Qassim said they did take him back to the Airbnb – after Jay asked. He says: “Took him home? No one took no-one bro. He invited himself. Think bro, use your head.”
(Image: YouTube)
“How am I feeling after this? It’s mental mate, it’s actually mad. Do you know what I’m saying, it’s actually mental man.”
When asked ‘Did you punch him’ he replied: “No, of course not. Mate, what do you reckon happened to him? He had a tragic accident, you know what it’s like. Taking it out that way. The kid didn’t have his funeral, have a bit of respect.”
When asked about the stolen watch, he says; “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.”
Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, had been on holiday with pals Lucy Mae Law, 18 and Brad Hargreaves, with Qassim urging people to leave them alone.
(Image: YouTube)
“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.”
He said he did know the group from Lancashire: “Yeah, of course, I did, how else would I be around like? We were doing our own things, we weren’t out together, cos I don’t listen to that music it’s not my thing.”
When asked why Jay was scared when he left their apartment Qassim said: “I don’t know why he was scared and he ain’t here to answer that question. I don’t want to say, people could be going through something in their own heads, who knows, do you know what I’m saying?”
(Image: Supplied)
“Yeah I offered him a lift back, but obviously when I wake up, cos you’ve got to remember we came back at 6.30, 6.40 in the morning like. And I only slept for an hour before I had to move my car”
“Bro I’m not driving another half an hour and all of this one hour away, bro, I was in a Cupra estate, zooming the road like, it’s not an hour away, it’s half an hour.”
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