Liam Payne’s friend, hotel employee and alleged drug dealer charged in connection to singer’s death
Liam Payne’s friend, a hotel employee and an alleged drug dealer have been charged in connection to the former One Direction member’s death, the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office announced in a press release Wednesday.
The friend, who was not identified but reportedly presented himself as Payne’s manager, was charged with abandonment for allegedly failing to inform the late singer’s family that he had suffered a drug relapse, La Nación reported.
Police reportedly tried to get in touch with the Argentine businessman when Payne fell to his death on Oct. 16 via a cell number that hotel managers had provided but he did not pick up the phone.
A lawyer from a major firm reportedly showed up later to inquire whether the friend faced any charges, which led to the businessman testifying as a witness.
A judge then decided that the friend had allegedly breached his duty of care with respect to Payne. He now faces a sentence of five to 15 years in prison for abandonment.
Meanwhile, the hotel employee and the alleged drug dealer have been charged with supplying Payne with narcotics. The identities of the two suspects has not been released.
Payne had been staying as a guest at CasaSur Palermo hotel with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, before he tragically fell from his hotel room’s balcony. Cassidy had left Argentina days prior.
Police have been closely investigating the hotel for weeks following the pop star’s death, and earlier this week, TMZ reported that authorities conducted raids as part of their investigation of the three suspects.
Police reportedly searched hotel lockers, reviewed security footage and obtained items of interest such as “documents and videos” from the lobby and courtyard.
According to La Nación, investigators discovered the alleged drug dealer’s phone number during a search, and shortly after went to the man’s home in Lomas de Zamora, Argentina, as part of their probe.
Authorities reportedly seized from the alleged drug dealer’s home a jar of marijuana, nine cell phones, three personal computers and two portable electronic storage devices.
It is believed the hotel employee contacted the alleged drug dealer to get illegal substances for Payne.
Sources told TMZ last month that investigators were zeroing in on a soap box found in the “Night Changes” singer’s trashed hotel room because they suspected it was used to “secretly hand off” drugs.
A toxicology report showed Payne had multiple drugs in his system when he died, including pink cocaine, which is a drug cocktail typically mixed with ecstasy, ketamine, caffeine and a psychedelic used to treat sexual dysfunction known as 2-CB or Tusi.
The singer — who was seen acting erratically in the hours leading up to his death — had allegedly also ingested cocaine, crack and benzodiazepine, a depressant, per the report.
Photos investigators took of the troubled star’s room also showed drug paraphernalia scattered all over a table, including clonazepam, which is used for epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms or panic disorders.
However, Payne’s cause of death has been attributed to the multiple traumas, internal and external bleeding he sustained as a result of his fatal fall.
Despite the latest charges, La Nación reported that the death investigation is ongoing.
Prosecutors previously interviewed two women, who identified themselves as prostitutes, and were seen hanging out with the former boy bander in his room the day he died.
The 25-year-old escorts previously testified under oath they only drank alcohol with Payne and did not do drugs with him. However, one of the women is reportedly under scrutiny by prosecutors because she gave a conflicting account.
La Nación reported that she could not give a straight answer when asked whether Payne called her to the hotel or the hotel employee requested her services.
It’s been widely reported that the prostitutes fought with the “Strip That Down” singer because he allegedly refused to pay them.
La Nación now adds that hotel managers tried to contact Payne’s friend, who has since been charged, to try and rectify the financial issue but he did not answer their calls.
While prosecutors piece together what really occurred, Payne is set to be laid to rest soon.
Page Six exclusively confirmed Wednesday that the “What Makes You Beautiful” signer’s body has been flown to his homeland of England by his father, Geoff Payne, for his burial.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
