A toxicology report has revealed heartbreaking details about Liam Payne’s final moments, including a shocking discovery about his tragic fall.
The One Direction star tragically passed away at the age of 31 on October 16 after falling from a balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
An investigation into Liam’s death is still underway, and it has been reported this week that the judge presiding over the case is considering charges against two hotel employees – including the head receptionist who called emergency services after becoming worried about the popstar’s behaviour.
This comes on top of three other individuals who are due to be questioned this month – including two people accused of supplying Liam with drugs and another who is being accused of abandonment of a person resulting in death.
On November 7, a report from the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office found traces of “alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants” in Liam’s system. Officials also dismissed suicide, stating that “in the state he was in, he did not know what he was doing and could not understand it”.
According to the report, the father-of-one, whose tragic death has been linked to a substance-induced “psychotic episode”, “did not adopt a reflexive posture to protect himself in the fall, so that, for the moment, it can be inferred that he may have fallen in a state of semi-or total unconsciousness.”
It was therefore concluded that Liam wasn’t fully conscious or was in a “in a state of noticeable decrease or abolition of consciousness” at the time of his fall, reports the Mirror.
The investigators stated: “For the prosecution, this situation would also rule out the possibility of a conscious or voluntary act on the part of the victim since, in the state he was in, he did not know what he was doing and could not understand it.”
This development comes as new documents obtained by Rolling Stone reveal that the judge in the case is now considering charges against two workers, including the head receptionist, who made two 911 calls around the time of Liam’s death and continues to work at CasaSur.
The judge has now summoned all suspects for questioning as the investigation progresses. A new filing made on Monday, December 9, lists the CasaSur Palermo employees as “imputados,” or “people charged,” with the document requesting that they be notified.
However, the specific accusations they face have not been detailed. Respected Argentinian news website Infobae today identified the second hotel employee as the head of security.
The publication also reported that investigating judge Laura Bruniard, who is now leading the probe again after prosecutors successfully appealed her decision to recuse herself from the inquiry on a technicality, had instructed the two men to appoint a defence lawyer so that she could formally question them under oath.
The two hotel employees will be brought before the court on December 19 at 10 and 11 am.
The legal document notes: “Since there is sufficient reason to suspect that they have participated in the investigated act, we ask that the following people give a statement.”
In line with Buenos Aires judicial protocol, post-interrogation, the presiding judge must decide whether the accused will face further prosecution, be dismissed from the case, or if inadequate evidence precludes either action. On the night he died, CCTV caught Liam evidently inebriated, causing uproar in the hotel foyer until staff stepped in.
Witnesses stated that the vocalist fought against being sealed in his room, cautioning personnel he would exit via the balcony if detained. It’s alleged hotel workers utilised a master key to secure Liam in his room, with emergency services alerted shortly after.
The hotelier raised alarm over Liam being in a balcony room, voicing worry for his safety: “I don’t know whether his life may be in danger. He is in a room with a balcony, and, well, we’re a little afraid.”
That same caller was featured in an image lifting Liam to his suite just minutes before his deadly plunge, raising questions about employee conduct and why Liam wasn’t left in the lobby as they waited for assistance.
After being left unattended in his room, Liam reportedly tried to escape through the balcony, resulting in disastrous outcomes. His body was found in an interior courtyard, a bag still slung over his shoulder, hinting that he might have been intending to depart from his suite at the time of the fall.
Notably, this bag was absent when Liam was initially assisted from the hotel lobby to his room. An autopsy concluded that Liam passed away instantly from “multiple traumatic injuries” brought on by his fall, which also caused “internal and external haemorrhage”.
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