Hotel worker Brian Nahuel Paiz was arrested in Argentina in connection with the singer Liam Payne death, Every week can confirm.
The waiter, 24, was charged last month with allegedly supplying the deceased one direction former drug star his fatal fall.
Paiz was arrested at his home outside Buenos Aires, Argentina on Friday, January 3, and could face between four and 15 years in prison. Paiz was under house arrest at the time local authorities raided his home.
People reported Friday that both Paiz and his attorney Fernando Madeo Facente maintains that the hotel employee is innocent.
Suspects in Liam Payne's death speak out: Braian Nahuel Paiz claims he 'never drugged a star'
Payne, who shot to fame as one of the five members of the boy 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.
A preliminary autopsy cited “multiple traumas” as Payne's cause of death, including hemorrhages in his chest, skull and abdomen. The partial autopsy found that several drugs were found in his system at the time of his death, including traces of “pink cocaine” – a mixture of methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA – cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack.
Paiz was one of five accused on Monday, December 30, by the Office of the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor of Argentina related to Payne's death.
Besides Paiz, a CasaSur employee Ezekiel Pereyra also accused of drugging Payne before his death.
(Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal)
Meanwhile, Payne's friend Roger Nores among those accused of murder, along with Esteban Grassireceptionist at Hotel CasaSur Palermo, and head of hotel security Gilda Martin.
In an interview with Argentina Telefe news which aired in November 2024, Paiz denied drug dealing to the late musician. Paiz said he first met Payne when he had dinner at the restaurant where Paiz works in Puerto Madero in the weeks before his death.
According to Paiz, Payne was “already under the influence of drugs and did not eat anything” at the restaurant.
He continued, “We exchanged details and saw each other later that night. It was all normal. “
2 Suspects 'Could Be Arrested Soon' In Liam Payne Death Investigation: Report
Paiz said, “I never gave drugs to Liam,” adding that the two 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 took drugs or accepted any money,” he said, adding that he had still forwarded the messages between himself and Payne until the second arrange their meeting.
Payne's funeral held in Amersham, England, on November 20. Harry styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan – among those present.
