Liam Payne’s final hours revealed in tragic detail by judge as star was ‘demanding’ drugs & left ‘unable to stand’
LIAM Payne’s final hours have been detailed by a judge who revealed the former One Direction star was “unable to stand” before falling to his death.
Judge Laura Bruniard said the 31-year-old should have been left in a safe place instead of being put at risk by being taken to his room after binging on drink and drugs.
The judge also concluded Liam fell to his death after trying to climb over his balcony, appearing to support claims he was trying to escape his room because he didn’t want to be there.
It comes as five people have been charged in connection with the 31-year-old’s death on October 16.
The troubled popstar died after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Liam’s manager as well as the manager of the hotel and its head of reception have now been charged with negligent homicide – similar to manslaughter in the UK.
They face up to five years in prison if convicted.
Meanwhile, a hotel employee and a local waiter have been charged with supplying drugs, and could be jailed for 15 years.
In a swipe at the two hotel workers she has charged with manslaughter, Bruniard said: “I consider that they didn’t act maliciously with regards to the singer’s death but they were reckless in facilitating his transfer to his room by taking him there.
“They created a legally unacceptable risk and Liam Payne’s death is the result.
“Liam wanted to climb over the balcony, fell into the abyss and died.”
She argued that Liam’s manager and employees of the hotel where he was staying failed him in the moments before his death as she revealed details of Liam’s final hours.
Judge Bruniard said he had been “demanding” drugs and alcohol while staying at the hotel.
On the day of his death, Liam was “unable to stand” in the hotel lobby due to the “consumption of various substances”, court documents said.
Judge Bruniard said that just before 5pm, Liam was “unable to look after himself” and had “clearly fainted” in the hotel lobby.
The singer was “dragged” to his room by the receptionist and two others, which the manager allowed to happen “at least by omission”.
The judge said – given Liam’s “altered” consciousness and access to a balcony from his room – the “proper thing to do was to leave him in a safe place and with company until a doctor arrived”.
Liam’s representative Rogelio “Roger” Nores – who is charged with negligent homicide – is accused of leaving Liam on his own in the hotel in a “state of vulnerability”.
The judge described Liam’s death as “foreseeable”.
Fresh court documents also reiterate the theory that Liam had “tried to leave the room through the balcony and thus fell”.
Toxicology tests revealed that before his death, Liam had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his body.
Hotel workers, head receptionist Esteban Grassi and chief of security Gilda Martín, are also charged with manslaughter.
Braian Paiz has been charged with supplying narcotics for payment, alongside another hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra also charged with supplying drugs.
Paiz, 24, and Pereyram 21, have been accused of selling Liam drugs on two occasions mere days before his death and both have been refused bail.
Judge Bruniard reviewed WhatsApp messages exchanged between Liam and the waiter as part of the probe into his death.
The texts reportedly played a key part in deciding his drug charges – of allegedly selling cocaine to Liam twice on October 14.
Paiz’ lawyer admitted his client is a drug user – but has insisted he is not a dealer and that no money changed hands.
Both Paiz and Pereyra are understood to be expected to appeal against the decision to detain them ahead of trial.
Nores, Grassi and Martin were spared pre-trial detention in exchange for a travel ban as well as a seizure of almost £40,000 worth of assets.
Grassi and Martin have been identified as two of the three men pictured carrying Liam back up to his room from his hotel lobby shortly before his balcony fall.
Receptionist Grassi, who made an emergency 911 call moments before the singer died, has not made any public comment since being named as one of the suspects.
But leaked texts he has submitted to investigators suggest Liam asked a bellboy for cocaine shortly after he checked in – and called him “useless” when he told him he was unable to help.
The senior hotel worker also claimed the singer rang reception repeatedly, especially at night, to request alcohol and ask where he could buy cocaine.
