Liam Payne tragically died on October 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Argentina, and five people have been charged in connection with his death
Alleged conversations between Liam Payne one of those charged in connection with his death have surfaced.
Five people have been charged in connection with the singer’s death. The 31-year-old singer died on October 16 after falling from the balcony of his third floor hotel room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The beloved pop star died of multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding as a result of the fall. Toxicology tests revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his body at the time of his death.
And now alleged conversations between Liam and one of the accused suggest the One Direction star was sold cocaine twice prior to his death. The messages were allegedly sent between Payne and Braian Nahuel Paiz, a waiter at the hotel.
Paiz and Ezequiel Pereyra, another worker at the hotel, have been charged with supplying drugs to the singer, according to Argentina’s prosecutor’s office. The hotel’s manager, Gilda Martin, and its receptionist, Esteban Grassi, have been charged with negligent homicide as well as Payne’s friend Roger Nores.
Negligent homicide is similar to gross negligent manslaughter in the UK – carries a sentence of one to five years. The sentence for supplying drugs is more severe and carries a sentence of up to 15 years.
Paiz, who has admitted to using drugs with Payne in the past, has been accused of supplying narcotics for payment. WhatsApp messages allegedly sent between Payne and Paiz were reportedly reviewed by the judge and influenced her decision to accuse him and Pereyra selling cocaine twice before Liam’s death.
Paiz is suspected of having sold Liam cocaine twice on October 14. Pereryra is suspected of having sold Liam cocaine on October 15 and 16, the latter of which is the day Liam died.
Paiz’s lawyer denied allegations of selling drugs but acknowledged his client’s drug use, while Pereyra is yet to comment on the claims against him. Attorney Fernando Madeo argued: “Braian made a very extensive statement and gave all the facts.
“Among them, he stated that he met Liam on two occasions. Among several issues, which they did in a private environment, they also consumed narcotics, but it is not true that he sold him drugs,”
Judge Bruniard said she did not think Payne’s friend, the hotel manager and receptionist “had planned or wanted the death of Payne” but that their actions had created a “risk” to his life. She has reportedly ordered Paiz and Pereyra to be remanded in custody.
Nores is suspected of manslaughter for allegedly “failing to fulfil his duties of care, assistance and help” towards the singer, after having “abandoned him to his luck knowing that he was incapable of fending for himself and knowing that he [Payne] suffered from multiple addictions”.
Nores has repeatedly claimed he is innocent regarding Liam’s death. He said in a statement last month: “I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened.
“There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left,” he continued. “I could have never imagined something like this would happen. I’ve given my statement to the prosecutor on October 17 as a witness and I haven’t spoken to any police officer or prosecutor ever since. I wasn’t Liam’s manager. He was just my very dear friend.”
Hotel manager Martin is suspected of manslaughter for allegedly failing to stop Liam from being taken to his hotel room moments before his death. Hotel receptionist Grassi is suspected of manslaughter for allegedly asking three people to “drag” Liam, who could not stand, back to his room instead of keeping him safe.
According to Infobae, all five suspects are said to have been summoned to appear in court.
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