A waiter who has been accused of providing drugs to Liam Payne before his tragic demise has been taken into custody, as reported by media from Argentina.
Braian Paiz, aged 24, was among five individuals charged in connection with the pop star’s death on Monday, and he has been summoned to appear in court.
The 31-year-old singer passed away after he plummeted from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16 of the previous year.
Payne fell from a third-floor balcony at Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires Pic: Reuters
Paiz, along with hotel staff member Ezequiel Pereyra, faces charges of drug distribution on two separate instances — a crime that could result in a sentence of up to 15 years, as stated by the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office on Monday.
Multiple Argentinian news outlets have indicated that Paiz was apprehended at his residence in Ingeniero Budge last Friday.
The reports also suggest that authorities searched Pereyra’s home, age 21, but he was not present at the time.
Roger Nores, identified as a “representative” of Payne, along with hotel manager Gilda Martin and receptionist Esteban Grassi, have been charged with negligent homicide — a charge akin to manslaughter under UK law, which can carry a sentence of one to five years.
Payne and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy. Pic: Instagram/Kate Cassidy
A statement from the judge and the public prosecutor, detailing the events leading up to Payne’s death, indicated that he had been “demanding” drugs and alcohol during his time at the hotel.
On the day of the incident, October 16, it was noted that Payne was in the hotel lobby and “unable to stand” due to the “intake of several substances,” as per the court documents.
The receptionist, along with two others, “dragged” the singer back to his room, while the manager allowed this to occur, “at least by omission,” it was reported.
Considering Payne’s “altered” state and the access to a balcony from his room, the judge noted that “the proper course would have been to ensure he remained in a secure environment with company until medical help arrived.”
The judge also accused Payne’s representative, Nores, of abandoning Payne in the hotel whilst in a “vulnerable state,” despite his awareness of Payne’s past addiction struggles and the fact that he could “not rely on the rest of the hotel staff to act responsibly.”
Read more:
‘Wonderful’ British man killed in New Orleans attack named
Judge orders Trump to be sentenced in hush money case before he takes office
Payne, right, and One Direction in 2013. Pic: PA
The judge characterized Payne’s passing as “predictable.”
The prosecutor’s office previously excluded self-harm as a contributing factor in the One Direction leader’s demise, indicating that he did not exhibit a reflexive posture to safeguard himself from the fall, leading to the inference that he may have fallen “while in a state of semi or complete unconsciousness.”
The document released on Monday reaffirmed the theory that Payne had “attempted to exit the room via the balcony and subsequently fell.”
Toxicological reports indicated that prior to his demise, Payne had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his system.
The post-mortem analysis confirmed that Payne succumbed to “multiple” injuries along with internal and external hemorrhaging.
