Braian Nahuel Paiz is suspected of supplying Liam Payne with drugs before the One Direction star tragically died in Argentina when he fell from the third floor of his hotel suite
Liam Payne’s suspected drug dealer has been pictured for the first time as he broke his silence into the investigation into the singer’s death.
Three people have been arrested after the One Direction star tragically died last month after falling from the third floor of his hotel suite in Argentina. Argentinian waiter, Braian Nahuel Paiz, is suspected of supplying Liam with drugs in the ongoing prosecution probe and broke his silence over the tragedy when he appeared on TV in Argentina on Saturday.
The 24-year-old admitted to meeting Liam, 31, in his hotel twice before his fatal October 16 plunge and confessed to taking drugs with him. But he insisted he never supplied the singer with narcotics or accepted any money from him.
Braian Nahuel Paiz is suspected of supplying Liam Payne with drugs
As he appeared on local TV to protest his innocence, Braian shared an unseen photo of Liam taking days before the tragedy struck. It showed Liam sporting a cream New York Yankies cap and hoodie flashes the peace sign.
Braian said he first met the singer in the restaurant where he worked when the star was dining with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy.
Claiming they exchanged details before Braian went to meet Liam at his hotel, the waiter said the pair took drugs together but claimed: “I never took drugs to him or accepted any money.”
Tragically on October 16, Liam died after falling from the third floor of his hotel suite. Braian claims he last saw the star on October 13, telling journalist, Guillermo Panizza, he still has the messages in which the pair arranged to meet.
After leaving the singer’s hotel suite on October 13, Braian claims he was confused when photos of drug paraphernalia in Liam’s room were published after his death, saying: “When I saw the photos of the inside of Liam’s hotel room nothing made any sense to me. The Dove soap packet was there when I was in the hotel, but I couldn’t understand what it was for.”
The restaurant worker, said to have been sacked from his job after his implication in the ongoing criminal probe, is the second person linked to Liam to speak out.
Liam’s close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores protested his innocence after being named locally last week as one of the trio under investigation.
Responding to the reports which identified him as one of the suspects linked to the drug accusations and allegations he abandoned Liam before his death, businessman Mr Nores who has previously been described as the singer’s manager, said in a statement: “I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened. There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could have never imagined something like this would happen.”
Prosecutors said in their lengthy statement released last Thursday three men they did not identify by name were now being formally investigated on suspicion of abandoning a person who subsequently died and supplying and facilitating drugs. The statement described one as the person who “routinely accompanied Liam during his stay in Buenos Aires.”
Liam’s dad, Geoff, has faced an agonising wait in Buenos Aires while toxicology tests were carried out on the One Direction star. Geoff returned to the UK with his son’s body last Thursday to help finalise funeral arrangements following a second visit to the makeshift shrine set up by fans outside the singer’s hotel. The funeral is expected to take place in Liam’s home town of Wolverhampton while the star’s legion of loyal fans continue to mourn.
