THREE DETAINED AND ONE HOME RAID IN NEW CONNECTIONS WITH THE DEATH OF LIAM PAYNE

Concerning the death of former One Direction member Liam Payne, Argentine police have arrested three persons of interest and searched the residence of one. After falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Payne, 31, died on October 16.

According to PA, the public prosecutor's office in Argentina has disclosed that one individual has been charged with both the supply and facilitation of drugs and the abandonment of a person followed by death. In the meantime, a third party and a hotel employee have also been accused of supplying drugs. None of the suspects have been named.

"The person who accompanied the artist on a daily basis during his stay in the city of Buenos Aires" is one of the suspects, according to the prosecution. The second suspect is a hotel worker who is suspected of giving Payne drugs, and the third is a purported "drug supplier."

A toxicology report discovered that Payne had "traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant" in his body at the time of his death, despite the autopsy report stating that he died from multiple injuries, including "internal and external haemorrhage" brought on by the fall. Prosecutors said that "exhaustive and meticulous measures were taken to clarify the circumstances" surrounding Payne's death in a statement.

Additionally, it stated: "Professor Andres Esteban Madrea formally charged three individuals, requesting their questioning and arrest in a 180-page ruling presented last Friday to Judge Bruniard, based on the evidence gathered and after analyzing the various bodies of proceedings and numerous documentary annexes and the background of the case."

According to the statement, Payne's phone has undergone forensic examination by Argentine authorities. 800 hours of video footage from the hotel's security cameras and the surrounding areas have also been examined. Some of Payne's devices are still being examined, and nine raids have been ordered on Buenos Aires properties connected to his death.

Payne's body was returned to his family on November 6 after being detained in Argentina while local authorities finished additional toxicology and laboratory testing, public prosecutor Andrés Madrea recently told the BBC.

His former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik all posted a joint statement on social media at the time of Payne's passing.

In a statement uploaded to One Direction's Instagram page, the four members said, "We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing." There will be more to say when everyone has the time to do so. We will, however, take some time to mourn and come to terms with the loss of our beloved brother for the time being. 

"The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam."