By SHANNON MCGUIGAN and GERARD COUZENS Published: 15:54 EST, 7 November 2024 | Updated: 16:28 EST, 7 November 2024
Argentinian prosecutors probing Liam Payne’s death confirmed last night the arrests of three suspects who are now under formal investigation.Several reports tonight said the trio had been ‘charged’ with offences, however sources familiar with the Argentine judicial system said they had instead been arrested and placed under official suspicion, and had not been formally indicted. Authorities have not named a ‘friend’, who they are accusing of ‘abandoning a person followed by death’ in relation to the singer’s demise. They are also accusing the individual of being complicit in the supply of drugs, crimes which are punishable by a prison sentence of up to 15 years on conviction.Two hotel workers are also among the three individuals now being formally investigated by authorities, according to ABC News.It comes after the One Direction star, 31, died after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palmero Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16. Argentinian prosecutors probing Liam Payne ‘s death sensationally confirmed last night the arrests of three suspects who are now under formal investigation Aerial view of the hotel where British singer Liam Payne died in Buenos Aires Payne had been on holiday in South America with girlfriend Kate Cassidy (left) Liam Payne’s last post on Snapchat before he fell to his death from the third floor of a hotelIn their third official statement released since the star’s death, public prosecutors revealed only alcohol, cocaine and an anti-depressant were found in the former One Direction singer’s system.Despite previous speculation, they have ruled out that the pop star took his own life after falling from the balcony. The statement from the investigation led by prosecutor Andrés Esteban Madrea confirmed ‘unlawful conduct’ was discovered in relation to the pop star’s death. The statement read: ‘Three people were charged with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics.’From the beginning of the investigation and within a few days, exhaustive and meticulous actions and measures were carried out to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of the artist.’They divulged that 800 hours of CCTV footage was examined as well as several dozen statements received from hotel staff, family, friends and medical professionals. They confirmed that they had examined the pop star’s mobile phone in the investigation as well as the hotel guest registry. They also confirmed that necessary thanatological and laboratory studies were carried out and completed in the post-mortem.The statement continued: ‘As a result of the evidence gathered and after analysing the various bodies of evidence and numerous documentary annexes and the background of the case, the prosecutor Andrea Madrea formally charged three people, requesting their indictment and detention in a 180-page report presented last Friday before Judge Bruniard.’They confirmed that an individual who accompanies the artist on a daily basis during his stay in Buenos Aires has been charged with abandonment of a person followed by death. The person in question has also been charged with the concurrence with the supply and facilitation of narcotics according to authorities. The second defendant who is a hotel worker has been charged with the supply of cocaine to Liam Payne during the period he was at the hotel.The third person has also been charged with supplying narcotics to the pop star on October 14, prosecutors say. It comes as Police investigating the death of Liam Payne raided the homes of two hotel employees and a ‘friend’ of the former One Direction singer on Tuesday in the province of Buenos Aires.Toxicology reports, which have already been communicated with Liam’s family revealed he had consumed alcohol, cocaine and a prescribed anti-depressant in the last 72-hours of his life, prosecutors have said.Post mortem carried out by Forensic Medical Corps (CMF) concluded ‘polytraumatisms’ and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’ was the cause of pop star’s cause of death.Prosecutors confirmed that the injuries were ‘compatible with those produced by a fall from a height and that self-injury of any kind and/or the physical intervention of third parties has been ruled out’. Autopsy findings also found that Liam may have fallen whilst in a ‘state of semi-or-total unconsiousness’, proescutors say.
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Liam Payne: Police in Argentina arrest three people in connection with One Direction star’s death