One of the men accused of selling drugs to Liam Payne before his death has been arrested.
The former One Direction star died on October 16, after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. The Argentinian prosecutor’s office later shared that the cause of death was due to multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding.
On December 30, Judge Laura Bruniard – who is handling the investigation into Payne’s death – updated charges against the five people charged in connection with his passing.
This included Braian Paiz, a restaurant waiter who is accused of selling drugs to the late One Direction singer. Paiz was ordered to preventative jail time as he awaits trial and on Friday (January 3) he was detained, per Rolling Stone.
Back in November, Paiz broke his silence, admitting that he met Payne twice before his death and confessed to taking drugs with him. However, he insisted that he never supplied Payne with narcotics nor accepted any money from him.
Paiz’s attorney, Fernando Madeo Facente also previously shared a statement with Rolling Stone which slammed the accusation, calling the judge’s ruling “completely arbitrary and illegitimate.”
“This resolution does nothing more than demonstrate what we maintain as a ‘witch hunt’ ought to be carried out in this case,” Facente added. “[They’re] looking for guilty parties and accusing innocent people of committing crimes.” He has not commented on Paiz’s detainment.
Paiz is accused alongside hotel worker Ezequiel Pereyra who also allegedly sold Payne drugs. Both could face four to 15 years in prison if found guilty. Paiz also must pay a $4,900 (£3,945) fine.
Paiz was charged with giving Payne cocaine “in exchange for a price” in the early hours of October 14, according to a statement from the prosecutor last week. Payne allegedly consumed said drug at the hotel while Paiz spent time with him in his room.
“Also, on the same day, [Paiz] is accused of having delivered more cocaine, for a price… between 10:03 and 10:44am.,” read the prosecutor’s description of the charges. “Payne appeared at the defendant’s home… travelling in a taxi and returning to the hotel.”
