Three people detained and one home raided in connection to Liam Payne's death
Topics: Celebrity, Liam Payne
Yasmeen Hamadeh
Featured Image Credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for ABA/Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Nickelodeon
Topics: Celebrity, Liam Payne
Argentinian police have detained three people of interest and raided the home of one in connection to former One Direction member Liam Payne's death.
Payne, 31, passed away on October 16 after falling off the third floor of hotel CasaSur Palermo in Buenos Aires.
According to PA, the public prosecutor's office in Argentina has shared that one person has been charged with abandonment of a person followed by death and the supply and facilitation of drugs. Meanwhile, a hotel employee and a third person have also been charged with supplying narcotics.
None of the suspects have been named.
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Prosecutors said one of the suspects is 'the person who accompanied the artist on a daily basis during his stay in the city of Buenos Aires'. The second suspect is a hotel employee accused of supplying Payne with drugs, and a third is an alleged 'drug supplier'.
While Payne's autopsy report revealed that he died from a number of injuries, including 'internal and external haemorrhage' caused by the fall, a toxicology report found that he had 'traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant' in his body at the time of his death.
A statement released by prosecutors said 'exhaustive and meticulous measures were taken to clarify the circumstances' around Payne's death.
It also read: "Based on the evidence gathered and after analyzing the various bodies of proceedings and numerous documentary annexes and the background of the case, prosecutor Andres Esteban Madrea formally charged three people, requesting their questioning and arrest in a 180-page ruling presented last Friday to Judge Bruniard."
The statement also says that Argentinian officials have carried out a forensic analysis of Payne’s phone. They also have reviewed 800 hours of video footage from the hotel's security cameras and nearby areas.
Nine raids have been ordered on properties in Buenos Aires linked to Payne's death and some of his devices are still being analyzed.
Meanwhile, public prosecutor Andrés Madrea recently confirmed to the BBC that Payne's body was returned to his family on November 6 after being held in Argentina while local authorities completed further toxicology and lab tests.
At the time of Payne's death, his former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik released a joint statement on social media.
"We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing," the four members wrote in a statement posted to One Direction's Instagram page. "In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
"The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam."
UNILAD has contacted Buenos Aires Police for comment.