Liam Payne’s grieving father has told prosecutors probing the singer’s death he wants the truth to come out and is ready to “tell them everything he knows” to aid the ongoing investigation.
Officials confirmed Geoff Payne, who is in Buenos Aires to speed up the repatriation of his son’s body, had today met with a representative of the public prosecutor’s office. He was told during the meeting with Andres Esteban Madrea the full autopsy results have not been concluded and he will not be able to fly back to the UK with his son’s body until toxicology and tissue tests are complete.
Confirming Mr Payne has indicated his willingness to assist investigators help understand the circumstances surrounding the 31-year-old’s death, a public prosecution spokesman said: "During the meeting with Mr Madrea, the musician’s father expressed his desire for an investigation and his wish to know what happened, and told the prosecutor that he was willing to testify about everything he knows about his son's life that could help the probe."
He added: “The representative of the public prosecutor’s office informed the father that the toxicological and histopathological studies complementary to the autopsy have not yet been completed and that their results are necessary to decide on the release of the body.”
Officials also confirmed yesterday that as well as the ongoing forensic tests, investigators were still analysing “mobile phones, computers, photographs and CCTV footage”, saying: “They will require a longer period of analysis.” Last week prosecutors confirmed they had interviewed three hotel workers and two women who had spent time with Liam before he died and were subsequently identified as prostitutes.
They said today the work to piece together the singer’s last hours was continuing with “hotel workers, acquaintances, technical and medical professionals and other people linked to him through his work.” Liam is known to have spent time with Argentinian businessman Rogelio Nores, who is understood to have given a statement to investigators.
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Tim Thursfield / newsteam - NTI)The singer’s family have been reassured they will be the first to receive any new information that comes out, following the leaking of pictures from Liam’s hotel room last week that were published in Argentinian media and showed a white powder on a desk which is still being analysed.
Argentinian news portal Infobae reported yesterday forensic experts had discovered traces of cocaine in Liam's body but tests on the white powder had so far proved “inconclusive.” Other unconfirmed reports originating in the US claimed a cocktail of drugs including designer narcotic pink cocaine containing MDMA, ketamine, methamphetamine had been found in his system during a partial autopsy along with crack cocaine and benzodiazepine.
Infobae has since insisted there is no mention of the other drugs in any official reports so far on Liam’s death. Prosecutors have categorised the death as “inconclusive” but said there is no evidence at this stage pointing to any third-party involvement and have said he may have plunged from his balcony in a “in a state of semi or total unconsciousness" during a substance-induced psychotic episode.
The initial autopsy, performed last Wednesday night, showed Liam had died of multiple trauma injuries which had caused “internal and external haemorrhaging.” His 25 ‘life-threatening’ injuries are believed to have included a skull fracture.
A hotel manager phoned 911, the UK equivalent of 999, last Wednesday afternoon just before Liam died to say: “We have a guest who’s off his head on drugs and is destroying everything in his room. We need someone to come.” In a second call he added: “we need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger. They must be in a room that has a balcony. And well, we’re a little bit worried he’ll do something, that he’ll put his life at risk.”
Police trying to find out who supplied Liam with the drugs he is suspected of taking before his death are said to have looked into whether his dealer was a hotel worker. Pals of the singer have claimed he was clean just days before the tragedy. Sources close to the singer said he entered Argentina on September 30 and was forced to extend his stay there due to issues renewing his expiring American visa. He arrived with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy but she left Buenos Aires to return to the States shortly before Liam died.
*Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email frank@talktofrank.com, message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.
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