A waiter accused of supplying drugs to pop star Liam Payne prior to his death has been arrested, according to reports from Argentinian media. Braian Paiz, 24, was one of five individuals charged in connection with Payne’s tragic passing on October 16, 2022.
The singer fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, marking a sudden and heartbreaking end to his life at age 31. Paiz, along with hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra, has been charged with supplying drugs on two separate occasions, an offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years under Argentinian law.
Local news outlets reported that Paiz was arrested at his home in Ingeniero Budge on Friday. Authorities also raided the home of Pereyra, 21, but he was not found at the location.
Meanwhile, other individuals connected to the incident, including hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Payne’s representative, Roger Nores, face charges of negligent homicide. This charge, which is akin to manslaughter in the UK, carries a prison sentence ranging from one to five years.
Court documents reveal troubling details about the final hours leading up to Payne’s death. The Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that Payne had been persistently requesting drugs and alcohol during his stay at the Casa Sur Hotel.
On the day of his death, Payne was seen in the hotel lobby in a highly intoxicated state, unable to stand due to the influence of multiple substances. According to the court filing, the receptionist and two others dragged Payne to his room while the manager reportedly allowed this without intervention.
The judge and prosecutor highlighted a critical lapse in judgment by those around Payne, particularly in failing to ensure his safety. They argued that given Payne’s altered mental state and the presence of a balcony in his room, the proper course of action would have been to place him in a secure environment and wait for medical assistance. The court documents emphasized that the hotel staff’s inaction, combined with Payne’s vulnerability, contributed to a preventable tragedy.
Further scrutiny fell on Roger Nores, Payne’s representative, who was accused of abandoning him in a compromised state despite knowing about his past struggles with addiction.
The judge noted that Nores should have understood that the hotel staff might not act appropriately to safeguard Payne. This neglect, the court stated, made Payne’s death “foreseeable.”
The prosecutor’s office has ruled out self-harm as a factor in Payne’s fall. Toxicology tests revealed that Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of his death.
Moreover, forensic findings suggested that Payne was in a semi-conscious or unconscious state when he fell, as there were no signs of reflexive actions to protect himself during the descent.
The court’s report reiterated the hypothesis that Payne likely attempted to exit his room through the balcony, leading to his fatal fall. A post-mortem examination confirmed that he suffered multiple injuries and extensive internal and external bleeding, ultimately causing his death.
These revelations have left fans and the public grappling with unanswered questions, shedding light on the complexities and dangers that plagued the singer’s final moments.
