The investigation by death of Liam Paynethe former member of One Direction, which occurred on October 16 in a hotel in Palermo led to the indictment of three people: an Argentine businessman who is a friend of the singer, a hotel maintenance employee and an alleged dealer. The businessman, who accompanied the artist during his stay in the country, was accused of abandonment of person.
The Argentine Justice ordered a series of raids in different parts of the city of Buenos Aires and the Buenos Aires suburbs. Among the registered sites are the hotel where Payne was staying, located at 6000 Costa Rica Street, where the fatal fall from the third floor occurred. They also raided properties in Palermo, Retiro, Abasto, Tigre, General Rodríguez, and in Altos de Isidro Casanova, La Matanza.
Drugs and arguments: Liam Payne’s last hours
According to the preliminary results of the autopsyPayne had consumed cocaine before falling from the balcony of his room. In the previous hours, the artist would have had an argument with two women, identified by their initials L. and A., who arrived at the hotel through a escort app. According to witnesses, The women tried to charge him $5,000.but due to the singer’s refusal, the conflict escalated to the hotel reception. Finally, after the intervention of the staff, both women left.
The authorities searched the home of one of the women in Altos de Isidro Casanova, where they found a jar of marijuana. The woman involved could not clarify whether it was Payne who invited her to the hotel or another employee, which has cast doubt on her testimony.
The role of the entrepreneur
The businessman who accompanied the singer has been charged with abandonment of person. Testimonies indicate that, after Payne’s death, an attempt was made to contact the businessman through the telephone numbers provided by the hotel, without receiving a response. The next day, the businessman appeared before the court, accompanied by a lawyer, and He stated that he had been at the hotel on the day of the incident. However, the employees claimed not to have seen it.
The charge against the businessman also arises from his alleged participation in creating a harmful environment for Payne, who had been in drug treatment. According to the Argentine Penal Code, the crime of abandonment of a person has a penalty that can reach 10 years in prison if it causes the death of the victim, although the minimum sentence of three years makes it releaseable.
Imputation of Drug Supply to the Employee and the Dealer
As for the hotel maintenance employee and the dealer, both have been accused of supplying narcotics, a crime considered serious. The research maintains that the employee would have provided the drug that Payne consumed, which would come from a dealer in Lomas de Zamora. During the raids, agents seized cell phones, computers and a jar of marijuana, among other items.
This case, which continues under the supervision of Judge Laura Bruinard, seeks to clarify the circumstances of the artist’s death and define the responsibilities of all those involved.
Source: Ambito
