A key figure in the investigation into the tragic death of former One Direction star Liam Payne has come forward, denying any role in supplying the singer with drugs. In an interview with Argentina's Telefe Noticias, 24-year-old waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz, who is one of three individuals under scrutiny, claimed he did not provide Payne with narcotics during their encounters in Buenos Aires. Payne, 31, died on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
Speaking publicly for the first time, Paiz insisted, "I never supplied Liam with drugs." He stated their initial meeting occurred weeks prior at a Puerto Madero restaurant where Payne dined but consumed no food. "He was already under the effects of drugs," Paiz noted. The pair exchanged contact information and later met up at Payne's hotel on October 2, followed by another meeting at CasaSur Palermo on October 13.
During these encounters, Paiz described their interactions as "normal" but acknowledged drug use took place. "We took drugs together, but I never took drugs to him or accepted any money," he maintained. Paiz further emphasized that he possesses messages exchanged with Payne to corroborate their meetings and the nature of their interactions.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Payne’s death have prompted an intensive investigation by Argentinian authorities. Autopsy results revealed that Payne had traces of “pink cocaine”—a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA—alongside cocaine, benzodiazepine, and alcohol in his system at the time of his death. According to the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s office, Payne’s death resulted from “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage” due to the fall. The investigation concluded that Payne did not display defensive reflexes, suggesting he may have fallen while semi- or fully unconscious.
Authorities have charged three individuals, including Paiz, with offenses related to abandonment leading to death and the supply and facilitation of narcotics. The allegations are rooted in Payne’s final days at the hotel, where investigators found evidence of repeated drug use facilitated by individuals in his circle. In a bid to piece together the events leading up to his death, prosecutors have conducted nine raids, reviewed more than 800 hours of security footage, and questioned numerous witnesses, including hotel staff and Payne's acquaintances.
Paiz, who has reportedly lost his job in the wake of the investigation, reiterated that his involvement with Payne did not extend to supplying drugs. "I never abandoned Liam," said Rogelio “Roger” Nores, another individual implicated in the case. In a statement to the Daily Mail, Nores asserted he visited Payne three times on the day of his death, leaving just 40 minutes before the fatal fall. "I could have never imagined something like this would happen. … I’m really heartbroken with this tragedy, and I’ve been missing my friend every day."
The investigation has shed light on Payne's turbulent final days, marked by a struggle with substance abuse. Friends and family are grappling with the loss, as Payne's body was repatriated to London following the completion of the initial investigation. The singer leaves behind a seven-year-old son, Bear, whom he shared with ex-partner Cheryl Cole.