Another Suspicious Death in Tenerife

We found an article which highlights the events surrounding another suspicious death in Tenerife. Although the death was nine years ago it echoes other cases where a person has died suspiciously in Tenerife and due to lack of evidence, the UK Coroner could only record an open verdict.

Jason Whitebread 27, from Nailsea in the UK, was staying with his brother John and his family and died the day he was due to depart after a three-month stay. He had told friends that he would use his stay in Tenerife to try and quit his heroin addiction but nobody seems to know whether he continued to take drugs during his stay.

On the morning of August 8th 2000 he was taken to the airport by a friend of his brothers known as Steve. Evidently he checked in his bags and went through passport control but did not board the flight.

The next known sighting of Jason was not until the next morning where he was found unconscious in his brothers car early in the morning. He was discovered by road sweepers in a square in the town of Puerto de la Cruz and was immediately taken to hospital. Sadly Jason never recovered consciousness and died on October 10th.

These circumstances are very suspicious to say the least, but what is alarming is that the Spanish Authorities refused to allow access to the Somerset and Avon police to conduct their own enquiries.

Unfortunately by the time Jason’s body was repatriated it was not possible to carry out toxicology analysis because the body had not been embalmed. The medical reports concerning Jason’s death have never been released by the Spanish Authorities so the circumstances of his death will never be known by the UK Authorities.

Avon Coroner’s Officer Allan Melhuish said that Avon and Somerset police had been “thwarted” in their attempts to investigate Jason’s death. He said: “The circumstances which led to Jason being found in this car are wholly unacceptable.

You can read the fully article published by “thisissomerset.co.uk” here. You can read more about the families plight.

The amazing thing about this story is that it raises more questions than answers. Why would someone check in for their flight, pass through airport security and then vanish and what really happened during the hours that passed before Jason was discovered unconscious?

The sad thing about this story, apart from the tragic death of a young man in Tenerife, is that the family may never know the facts surrounding this case, that must make grieving so hard. Tenerife, although in the Euro zone is an autonomous community, not governed by Spain, maybe that is why the UK Authorities have been unable to obtain the case information surrounding this suspicious death. It would be interesting to know more about this case.

The case of 24-year-old Sarah Hancock, a holiday rep on the Island was also very suspicious, with an open verdict being recorded despite some very suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. 40-year-old David Brueton also died swimming in the sea of Las Americas and the UK Coroner recorded an open verdict. There maybe other cases, especially those which do not get reported in the media.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

African Immigrants intercepted in Tenerife

A Vessel was spotted by the Coastguard yesterday eight miles of the coast of Tenerife which was seen to be carrying a large number of passengers. The vessel was intercepted and further investigation revealed that the vessel was carrying 77 Africans; several children were amongst the passengers.

The vessel was taken in to the port of Los Cristianos where the passengers disembarked and the owner of the vessel was arrested by the Guardia Civil. The passengers, who were all, would be immigrants were said to be in a good state of health but they will undergo further medical tests today.

The vessel was said to be dangerous and unseaworthy but it had safely made the crossing form Africa like so many other craft bringing would be immigrants hoping to enter Spain in this way. The number of similar incidences has fallen due to increased coastal surveillance.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Tenerife Death probe following suspicious death

A Tenerife death probe following a suspicious death has now been concluded.

An Englishman, Leighton Richardson from Flintshire has been held in Tenerife during a death probe following the death of his partner Lisa McConway from County Dublin who was found dead during the early hours of Christmas Eve 2008.

She was found badly bruised and lying in a pool of blood at her apartment in Las Americas. In critical condition she was taken to hospital but died in the early afternoon.

Richardson was immediately arrested after the police had been tipped off that there had been sounds of violence coming form the property. Richardson was released from jail after pathologists reported that Lisa could have died as a result of a beating or a fall. The autopsy also revealed that she had a rare blood clotting condition which could also cause extensive bruising, as a result of a fall.

Richardson was released on bail without a passport on the condition that he attended the Arona Court daily whilst samples were sent for further forensic examination. He was also allowed to look after the couples son whilst he was on bail.

He denied that he had beaten Lisa and claimed that he had gone to he apartment because she telephoned him to say she felt unwell.

Following the additional forensic reports, the Judge has shelved the case against Richardson and he is now free to do as he wishes. The case will remain open in case new evidence comes to light.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Michael Jackson dead but Immortal

World famous entertainer Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles, aged 50.

Paramedics were called to the Michael Jackson’s home around midday local time on Thursday, apparently after he stopped breathing.

He was pronounced dead two hours later after arriving at hospital in full cardiac arrest, said the LA County Corner, Fred Corral.

The star, who had a history of health problems, had been due to begin a series of comeback concerts in the UK on 13 July.

Michael Jackson will be sadly missed, the stress associated with his ambitious schedule of 50 concerts may well have been too much for his heart to bear.

Michael Jackson may have died but he is immortal because the great achievements of his 45 year have been laid down on audio and visual media, which will be enjoyed forever. The King of pop lives on.

Michael Jackson will go down in history as the greatest performer of all time, he was a  fascinating character, loved by so many but understood by so few.

Despite speculation, there is no hope of a Tenerife Michael Jackson concert now. He may well have followed in the footsteps on Elton John and Rod Stewart who both performed very successful gigs in Tenerife but that is now impossible.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Immigrant boat arrives in Tenerife

Europa Press reported that today at 6.00am a cayuco boat was spotted 9 miles south of Punta Rasca in Tenerife carrying 41 immigrants on board. The boat was discovered by the Foreign Surveilance system.

The Guardia Civil patrol boat “Pico Teide” was despatched to rendezvous with the cayuco and the two boats met 4 miles off the coast. Two of the immigrants were transferred to a medical centre at El Mojon and the boat was towed to Los Cristianos Harbour where it arrived this morning. All of the other immigrants were found to be in good health.

The immigrants were taken to a reception centre so that their condition could be assessed. More information about their origin will be made available later.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Traffic Jams in Tenerife at Las Teresitas Beach

Teresitas Beach

Last Sunday, the Santa Cruz Department of Public Safety and Transport noted a total of 16429 vehicles went to Las Teresitas beach. The result of course was massive traffic congestion. This beach only has 1165 designated parking spaces so it must have been very difficult to park.

On Sunday morning repeated warnings were given out on local radio stations advising people to use public transport. Ironically, the buses were also stuck in the traffic.

Las Teresitas beach is possibly one of the best beaches on the Island and it is just a 7kM drive from Santa Cruz, the highly populated capital city of Tenerife. The beach is obviously very popular with the locals but an increasing number of visitors are now being attracted from all over the Island.

It is a beautiful tropical designer beach with palm trees, a mountain backdrop and soft light sand imported from the Sahara Desert. Facilities are very good and it is very safe for bathing because it has man made protective sea barrier. Many say Las Teresitas beach is the best on the Island, it is a stunning location and a must place to visit.

If you are a tourist it is better to go on a weekday. Sundays are always the busiest day on Tenerife beaches.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Tenerife Timeshare Arrests

This piece of hot news was just published by Typically Spanish.

“The Interior Ministry says more than 50 people were affected and up to 1.5 million Euro defrauded.

Seven people have been arrested in a timeshare fraud on Tenerife, in a case which the Interior Ministry said would have affected more than 50 people and brought the fraudsters up to €1.5 million.

The fraud in the southern part of the island consisted in the suspects contacting the victims saying they had a purchaser interested in buying their rights to the property. Those who chose to go ahead were charged around €30,000 in taxes and the cost of transferring ownership. They heard nothing further from either their supposed buyer or the intermediary after the money had changed hands.

Officers found in a property search which took place as part of the five-month investigation banking documents, property deeds and receipts for money transfers to Senegal. The seven in custody are the holders of bank accounts where the money defrauded was paid, and are all residents of Tenerife. The Ministry has not released details of their nationalities”.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Tenerife Banana Exports

Tenerife Banana exports to the Spanish Peninsula have been cut to prevent further price reductions.

A decision was made to hold back banana exports this month in a late attempt to prevent price falls. The market had become oversaturated.

Apparently, 300,000 kilos of bananas have been donated to the World Food Bank to avoid the need to place them in storage. It would seem that Canarian farmers would rather give away the bananas than sell them cheap. Hopefully the World Food Bank will be able to make good use of the bananas.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Suspected Mass Graves in Tenerife near Mounte Teide

The Spanish Government has been continuing investigations into crimes which took place during 1936 under the Franco dictatorship. The regional authorities have been reviewing claims that there may be mass graves near Mount Teide.

Permission has been given by the Teide National Park, now a world heritage site, for excavations to be carried out providing that every care is taken not to interfere with the park environment.

Research has indicated that there is a mass grave or a number of mass graves somewhere at 2500 metres above sea level between El Portillo and the entrance to the park from La Oratova and Izana. It is believed the remains of of dissident local politicians who refused to support General Franco will be found including the Mayor of Santa Cruz and the Mayor of Buenavista.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property

Tenerife Summer Fire Risk

Now that summer is upon us the Tenerife Government is taking measure to reduce the high risk of forest fires. They are all to aware of the risks, it has taken two years for forested areas to recover following the devastating forest fires which ravaged the south of the Island during the summer of 2007.

Additional teams of firefughters will be deployed around the Island to be on hand should a fire break out. They will be based in a number of high risk spots between now and the 15th October. Last year there was only one serious fire and 30 minor incidents which is attributed to a similar risk management exercise being carried out last year.

The massive fires of 2007 were attributed to arsonists, particularly in the Los Realjos area and the fear remains that they may make further attempts this year.

Blog posted by Expedia Property SL – Tenerife Estate Agents for Tenerife Property