The sudden and tragic death of singer Liam Payne, former member of the globally renowned boy band One Direction, has sparked a complex legal case in Argentina, where Payne fell from a hotel balcony in October 2024. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death led to the arrest of Braian Nahuel Paiz, a 24-year-old hotel employee, on January 3, 2025. Paiz, who worked as a waiter, faces charges related to allegedly supplying drugs to Payne prior to the fatal fall. He was apprehended at his residence outside Buenos Aires and could face a prison sentence ranging from four to fifteen years if convicted. Both Paiz and his legal counsel, Fernando Madeo Facente, vehemently deny the allegations, maintaining his innocence.
Payne’s untimely demise occurred on October 16, 2024, at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. The 31-year-old singer’s fall from a third-floor balcony resulted in multiple traumatic injuries, as revealed by a preliminary autopsy. The autopsy report indicated the presence of various drugs in Payne’s system at the time of his death, including a mixture known as “pink cocaine” (comprised of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA), as well as cocaine, benzodiazepine, and crack. This discovery fueled the investigation into potential drug-related involvement in the tragedy.
The Argentinian authorities widened their investigation, leading to charges against five individuals connected to the case in late December 2024. Along with Paiz, another CasaSur employee, Ezequiel Pereyra, was also charged with allegedly supplying drugs to Payne. Furthermore, manslaughter charges were filed against Payne’s friend, Roger Nores, along with Esteban Grassi, a receptionist at the hotel, and Gilda Martin, the head of security at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. These charges suggest a broader investigation into potential negligence or culpability related to Payne’s death.
Prior to his arrest, Paiz had publicly denied any involvement in supplying drugs to Payne. In a November 2024 interview with Argentina’s Telefe Noticias, Paiz detailed his encounters with the singer. He claimed to have first met Payne at a restaurant where he worked in Puerto Madero, weeks before the tragic incident. According to Paiz, Payne appeared to be under the influence of drugs during their initial meeting. They subsequently exchanged contact information and met later that evening. Paiz maintained that their interaction was unremarkable. He further asserted that they arranged subsequent meetings, one at the Hyatt in Palermo on October 2nd and another at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on October 13th, but insisted he never supplied Payne with any illicit substances nor received payment for drugs. Paiz claimed that although they used drugs together, he merely shared his own supply and did not act as a dealer.
Paiz’s account of events contradicts the charges against him and raises questions about the sequence of events leading up to Payne’s death. He claimed to possess messages exchanged with Payne to corroborate his version of their meetings. The prosecution will likely scrutinize these messages and other evidence to determine the veracity of Paiz’s claims and the extent of his involvement. The multiple charges against other individuals further complicate the case, suggesting potential failures in security and oversight at the hotel.
The investigation into Liam Payne’s death continues to unfold, leaving many questions unanswered. The arrest of Braian Nahuel Paiz and the charges against four others mark a significant development in the case. The conflicting accounts and the presence of multiple drugs in Payne’s system paint a complex picture of the events leading up to his tragic fall. The legal proceedings will likely delve into the relationships between the individuals involved, the source of the drugs, and the potential responsibility of the hotel staff. As the investigation progresses, further details may emerge that shed light on the circumstances surrounding this devastating loss. The music world mourns the passing of a talented artist, while the legal system grapples with the complexities of determining culpability in this tragic case. Liam Payne’s funeral, attended by his former One Direction bandmates and held in Amersham, England on November 20, 2024, served as a poignant reminder of the profound impact of his untimely death.
