Liam Payne.
(Photo by Karui Tang/WireImage)Hotel employee Brian Nahuel Baez He was arrested in Argentina in connection with the singer Liam Payne death.
The 24-year-old bartender was charged last month for allegedly introducing him to the deceased one direction Star with drugs before His fatal fall.
Baez was arrested at his home outside Buenos Aires, Argentina on Friday, January 3, and could face between four and 15 years in prison, according to reports. the people and TMZ. per TMZBaez was under house arrest at the time local authorities raided his home.
the people It was reported on Friday, January 3, that both Baez and his attorney Fernando Madeo Vacente They maintain that the hotel employee is innocent.
One of three suspects being investigated for their alleged involvement in Liam Payne's death is speaking out weeks after the singer's fatal fall. During an interview with Argentine channel Telefe Noticias that was broadcast on Saturday, November 9, Brian Nahuel Baez, who is accused of supplying drugs to Payne, denied taking drugs with the late musician. Baez, 24 years old (…)
Payne, who rose to fame as one of the five members of the band One Direction, died on October 16, 2024 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires. He was 31 years old.
A preliminary autopsy cited “multiple trauma” as the cause of Payne's death, including bleeding in his chest, skull and abdomen. A partial autopsy found that multiple drugs were found in his system at the time of his death, including traces of “pink cocaine” — a mixture of methamphetamine, ketamine and ecstasy — cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack.
It was biz One of five people charged on Monday, December 30, by the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office of Argentina in connection with Payne's death.
In addition to Baez, Casasur's employee Ezequiel Pereira He was also accused of supplying drugs to Payne before his death.
Meanwhile, Payne's friend Roger Norris Among those facing manslaughter charges, along with Esteban Graciereceptionist at Casasur Hotel Palermo, and head of hotel security Gilda Martin.
During an interview with Argentina Television news Which was broadcast in November 2024, Baez denied using drugs For the late musician. Baez claimed that he first met Payne when he had dinner at the restaurant where Baez worked in Puerto Madero in the weeks before his death.
According to Baez, Payne “was already under the influence of drugs and had not actually eaten anything” at the restaurant.
He continued: “We exchanged details and saw each other later that night. Everything was normal.”
Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal investigation into Liam Payne's death may soon lead to the arrest of two men who were alleged to have supplied the singer with drugs. Police could arrest Brian Nahuel Baez and Ezequiel Pereira during the holiday season, a court reporter for Us Weekly claimed on Wednesday, December 11. And both (…)
“I never supplied Liam with drugs,” Baez insisted, adding that the pair had arranged to meet at the Hyatt in Palermo on October 2. They met again at the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires on October 13.
“We did drugs together, but I never did drugs with him or accepted any money,” he claimed, adding that he still had the letters exchanged between him and Payne to arrange their second meeting.
Payne's funeral It was held in Amersham, England, on Wednesday 20 November. Payne's former One Direction bandmates — Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan -He was among the attendees.
