Yahoo News Jay Slater missing: Spanish authorities say there is 'no current evidence of criminality' - but that could change
Spanish authorities have said that there is 'no current evidence of criminality' in the case of missing Jay Slater.
The police confirmed yesterday that the nearly two-week-long mountain search, following the apprentice bricklayer's mysterious disappearance on June 17, has been suspended near the Tenerife village of Masca, but the case remains open.
Today, it has emerged that the female investigating judge, who is being updated on the developments, has been informed by the Civil Guard that there is nothing at this stage indicating that Jay was the victim of a crime. As per standard procedure in Spain, the police force is reporting to a court which has initiated a routine judicial investigation.
The court has refrained from commenting on its behind-the-scenes activities as part of a 'parallel probe' which has continued despite the conclusion of the visible mountain search.
In the case of the teenager from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, the court is the Court of Instruction Number One in the municipality of Icod de los Vinos. This is because it is the judicial district covering villages like Masca and also the same place where a friend formally reported Jay missing to the Civil Guard "between 6pm and 8pm" on June 17, according to well-informed sources.
A judicial source, speaking on condition of anonymity as is normal in Spain, said: "There is no evidence of criminality at this stage in this case. That's not to say things won't change because the case remains open and investigations are ongoing. But right now that's the situation."
Another source stated: "This missing persons' case has been judicialised as is normal in Spain and it's been lodged at Court of Instruction Number One in Icod de los Vinos. The Civil Guard don't have to tell the judge about everything officers are doing but will be keeping her updated on case progress and of course update her on any significant developments."
In line with the revelation that the Jay Slater probe is being treated at the moment as a missing person inquiry and not a crime, officials confirmed investigating judge Maria Goya has not declared it 'secret' to protect the judicial proceedings. An order called in Spanish a 'secreto de sumario' is often slapped on a criminal probe in its infancy, preventing even defence lawyers and prosecuting attorneys from accessing case files.
Such orders also prevent public officials from revealing details of any case files with breaches punishable by heavy fines. Judges who make their investigations secret when cases are still in their infancy act out of a desire to avoid them being compromised by minimising the risk of leaks.
A judicial source shared: "The Jay Slater case that has been opened at the Icod de los Vinos court is not under any secrecy order."
