Argentine authorities have arrested three people in the death of singer Liam Payne, prosecutors announced. They did not name the suspects but said the charges relate to supplying the One Direction star the cocaine and abandoning him before his fatal fall from a third-story hotel in Buenos Aires.
The first suspect is a friend, who prosecutors say “accompanied the artist on a daily basis during his stay in the city” but abandoned him before the fall. Prosecutors also allege that person supplied cocaine to Payne. If convicted, the person faces between five and 15 years in prison.
The second person is a Casa Sur Palermo Hotel employee who gave Payne drugs on two separate occasions, while the third person is a “drug supplier,” according to prosecutors. They are both charged with two counts each of supplying narcotics.
An “exhaustive and meticulous” investigation followed the Oct. 16 tragedy that devastated his millions of fans. Authorities say they interviewed several dozen people, including hotel staff, family, medical professionals and experts, and reviewed some 800 hours of surveillance video. They also probed Payne’s phone, analyzing his calls, messages and social networks, prosecutors said. In addition, cops reviewed guest records and food/drink receipts. Cops conducted nine raids.
Medical examiners and experts also delved into how the fall occurred. According to toxicology reports, Payne had “trace amounts” of alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants in his system at the time of death. Experts also examined whether the fall was accidental or intentional. They determined Payne was either unconscious or close to unconscious at the time of his fall as he did not do anything to try and brace himself as he hit the ground. His injuries were “compatible” with a fall from that height, authorities stated. They ruled out suicide or someone else pushing him from the balcony, according to the release.
Authorities produced a 180-page report and presented its findings to a judge last Friday. The judge issued arrest warrants on Thursday.
There were reports of Payne acting belligerent in the hotel lobby before his death. Photos of a drug-filled table inside his hotel room also circulated on social media.
Medical examiners released his body to his family earlier this week, and he was transported back to his native England.
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