Waiter Arrested for Supplying Liam Payne Cocaine Before Tragic Fall
Key Suspect Nabbed in Cocaine Supply Case
Braian Nahuel Paiz, 24, has been arrested in Ingeniero Budge, Buenos Aires, after missing a 24-hour surrender deadline. He, along with hotel worker Ezequiel David Pereyra, 21, stands accused of selling cocaine to Liam Payne twice before the singer’s fatal fall from a hotel balcony on 16 October 2024 at CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
While both men deny selling drugs, Paiz admitted to taking them with Payne but insists he never sold any. If found guilty, they face 4 to 15 years behind bars.
Defense Lawyer Hits Back: ‘Witch Hunt’ Over Payne’s Death
Paiz’s lawyer, Fernando Madeo, slammed the investigation as a “witch hunt” aimed at finding scapegoats for the One Direction star’s high-profile demise.
“They want to look for culprits at any price, violating constitutional rights and guarantees, and forming a ‘truth’ that turns out to be false,” Madeo told America TV.
Madeo says Paiz was a lifelong One Direction fan who befriended Payne at a Buenos Aires restaurant, sharing messages and social time — nothing more sinister.
Manslaughter Charges for Hotel Staff and Friend
Paiz is one of five people facing charges linked to Payne’s death. Hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Payne’s friend Roger Nores are charged with manslaughter.
Judge Laura Bruniard ruled the trio did not intend to kill Payne but their reckless actions endangered his life.
- Nores allegedly committed negligent homicide by assuring Payne’s family of his safety but failed to summon medical help.
- Hotel staff reportedly saw an intoxicated Payne in the lobby but did nothing to intervene.
- Security footage allegedly shows Payne unconscious, dragged to his room by three people before his fatal fall.
Last Hours of Liam Payne: Fateful Balcony Fall
On the day he died, Payne was reportedly unable to look after himself. Footage shows him being carried to his hotel room, where he later plunged from the third-floor balcony. The judge said he should have been kept under medical supervision in a safe place.
Nores denies wrongdoing but remains banned from leaving Argentina as the investigation continues.
Music World Reels as Tributes Pour In
Liam Payne’s sudden death shocked the music industry. Fans and former One Direction bandmates paid tribute. The singer was laid to rest in Amersham, England, on 20 November 2024, with his family present.
Ongoing Battle in Court
The legal fight over Payne’s death is just heating up. Prosecutors and defence lawyers are locked in dispute over what triggered the fatal fall. Key evidence and testimonies remain under review, with possible prison sentences from one to 15 years hanging over the accused.
