A drugs ring has been linked to the tragic death of One Direction star Liam Payne - with three people charged in connection with the death of the singer.
Liam was just 31-years-old when he fell to his death from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday 16 October. His body was returned to the UK this week ahead of his funeral - which is expected to take place within the next week and is expected to be a private ceremony.
Questions quickly rose following the shock news that the singer had died - with images emerging from his hotel room that appeared to show drugs paraphernalia at the scene. And new reports have suggested that three people have been charged - including one who has been charged with "abandonment of a person followed by death".
Authorities in Argentina are continuing their investigations while fans around the world continue to mourn the loss of the chart-topping star. Here are the current details around the drugs ring and 'abandonment' charges relating to Liam Payne.
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Getty Images)When, where and how did Liam Payne die?
Liam Payne fell from a balcony while staying a the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday 16 October. Alberto Crescenti, head of Buenos Aires emergency services, revealed that the star died despite a speedy response from medics as his injuries were so severe.
His death was ruled to have been caused by “internal and external” hemorrhages and multiple traumatic injuries - while authorities also ordered a toxicology report to determine if there were drugs in his system at the time of his death. Local authorities also reported that the star did not adopt a “reflex posture” to protect himself from the fall - leading to a surprising conclusion in an early autopsy report that he “may have fallen in a state of semi- or total unconsciousness.”
On Friday 8 November, further reports ruled out suicide as a cause for Liam's death. Argentinian prosecutors determined that the star "did not know what he was doing and could not understand it" due to "the state he was in" before he passed away.
What is the VIP drugs ring connected to Liam Payne's death?
In the aftermath of Liam's death, South American publication Merco Press claimed investigators believed that a VIP drug dealer linked to the rich and famous played a part in the death. Other reports suggested that hotel staff were suspected of being involved in a drugs exchange.
A source told the DailyMail in October: "There were two guys at the hotel that were giving Liam drugs. They sent taxis out to collect packages for him. One of the guys was working in the cleaning department. After Liam died, they noticed that one taxi was sent to the cleaner's home address."
The source added: "The cleaner and another member of staff have been interviewed by the police." Reports this week revealed that at least one employee of the hotel has been arrested and charged in connection with Liam's death.
Who was charged with 'abandonment of a person followed by death' in the case of Liam Payne?
Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office revealed on Friday 8 November that three people had been arrested and charged in connection with Liam Payne's death. The prosecutors said that one person, who has not been named but had been accompanying Liam, was accused of "the abandonment of a person followed by death".
An unnamed hotel employee and a third unnamed person were charged with supplying drugs. Police in Argentina are also investigating a broken laptop and other devices seized that belonged to the late singer.
The BBC reported: "The prosecutor's office added it has examined more than 800 hours of video footage from security cameras in the hotel and on public roads, and received dozens of testimonies."
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