Liam Payne’s close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores 'declines' questioning

Liam Payne's friend Roger Nores' defence lawyer told the judge he would be submitting a written statement to the court in the coming days, although no more details were given

Liam Payne’s close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores has reportedly declined to answer questions from an investigating judge probing the singer’s death after becoming the third suspect to be summoned for a court quiz.

Alleged dealer Braian Nahuel Paiz and Ezequiel David Pereyra, a former employee at the Buenos Aires hotel where Liam lost his life, said they were “retaining their right to remain silent” during their Zoom quiz on Tuesday in front of Laura Bruniard.

Citing sources close to the probe overnight respected Argentinian news portal Infobae said businessman Mr Nores, who has denied claims he abandoned his pal before he plunged from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, had followed suit yesterday by declining to testify.

His defence lawyer told the judge he would be submitting a written statement to the court in the coming days, although no more details were given. The last two suspects, hotel chief receptionist Esteban Grassi and head of security Gilda Martin, are scheduled to be questioned later today.

Mr Nores told a TMZ documentary examining the life and death of Liam Payne which aired earlier this week that he was “in good spirits and perfectly balanced” the day he died as he refuted claims the singer was acting erratically and was intoxicated shortly before his October 16 fatal fall.

The businessman, fighting accusations he abandoned his pal before his death amid claims he was Liam’s 'de facto' manager, has previously protested his innocence after being named locally as one of the men under investigation.

He said in a statement last month: “I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened. There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could have never imagined something like this would happen.

“I’ve given my statement to the prosecutor on October 17 as a witness and I haven't spoken to any police officer or prosecutor ever since. I wasn't Liam's manager. He was just my very dear friend."

Mr Grassi and Mr 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 plunge in the last harrowing photo of the 31-year-old Brit to emerge.

The chief receptionist, 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 point to Liam asking a bellboy at the Casasur Palermo Hotel for cocaine shortly after he checked in - and calling 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.

Braian Nahuel Paiz told an Argentine TV journalist last month he had consumed marijuana and the former One Direction musician had taken cocaine during a rendezvous at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel where Liam was staying shortly before the singer’s death.

But he insisted in his interview with Guillermo Panizza on Telefe Noticias : “I never took drugs to him or accepted any money.”

Pereyra, 21, identified locally as the hotel worker suspected of delivering drugs to Liam in a Dove soap box, has made no public comment so far since it emerged he had been placed under formal investigation.

All five men currently under official investigation are set to learn early in the New Year whether they will be prosecuted.

Judge Laura Bruniard has ten days after questioning them to decide if they should face charges as part of an ongoing criminal investigation or whether the case against them should be closed.

Prosecutors said in a lengthy statement released on November 7 before the number of suspects increased to five that three men they did not identify by name were being formally investigated on suspicion of abandoning a person who subsequently died and supplying and facilitating drugs.

The statement described one as the person who “routinely accompanied Liam during his stay in Buenos Aires.”

Tests have shown the singer binged on alcohol and cocaine before he died and also had traces of an antidepressant in his system.

Prosecutors also made it clear the idea Liam had committed suicide had been ruled out and said he was in a state of “semi or total unconsciousness” as he fell to his death from his hotel balcony when he “didn’t know what he was doing.”

They said of the hotel worker and the alleged 'drug dealer': “The second suspect is a hotel employee who must respond for two proven supplies of cocaine to Liam Payne during the time he was in the hotel.

“The third is also a drug dealer who is being investigated on suspicion of another two clearly proven supplies of cocaine at two different times on October 14.”

The recent publication of the last photo of Liam, showing him being carried back up to his room from his hotel lobby shortly before his third-floor balcony plunge by three men said to include Mr Grassi, has led to speculation in Argentine media the court investigation could eventually become a manslaughter probe.

Public prosecutors in Argentina have yet to make any official comment about the court quizzes that have taken place so far.

Computers and telephones seized during the ongoing investigation are still being analysed.

Argentine media are reporting they include an Apple laptop confiscated from a female pop star linked to Mr Nores.

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