Liam Payne’s close friend – Rogelio Norse – has issued a bombshell statement and firmly denied abandoning the former One Direction star in the hours before his death.
On Thursday evening, Argentinian prosecutors confirmed the arrests of three suspects who are now under formal investigation, with one being an unnamed “friend” of the late pop star.
It's believed one of the trio "accompanied the artist on a daily basis" during his stay, one hotel employee has been accused of supplying the former boyband star with cocaine twice, while a third has been accused of supplying drugs.
Yesterday, police issued a lengthy statement where they outlined their ongoing investigation, with part of the statement reading: "Unlawful conduct was discovered, as a result of which three people were charged with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics.
"From the beginning of the investigation and within a few days, exhaustive and meticulous actions and measures were carried out to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of the artist.
"In this sense, several dozen statements were received at the headquarters of the Public Prosecutor's Office including the testimonies of hotel staff, family and friends and medical professionals.
Rogelio was a close friend of Liam's and was often pictured alongside him
"A detailed analysis of more than 800 hours of video footage from various security cameras in the hotel and others in the street was also carried out, with staff from the prosecutor's office and specialised analysts from the Superintendence of Special Investigations and the Technological Support Division of the City Police, made available from the outset by the Deputy Chief of the City Police, Jorge Guillermo Azzolina."
Now, Nores has denied being a suspect in Payne’s death and shut down claims that police had raided his home in Argentina.
Speaking to MailOnline, he revealed: "I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel 3 times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened. There were over 15 people in 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.
Liam died after falling from his third-floor hotel balcony
SNAPCHAT/REUTERS
"I wasn't Liam's manager he was just my very dear friend and please refer to the email I sent to Liam and his team on August 23.
"I'm really heartbroken with this tragedy, and I've been missing my friend every day."
The charge of "abandonment of a person followed by death" carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
When news of Payne’s death was first announced, it was reported he had consumed a "cocktail of drugs" including designer narcotic pink cocaine containing MDMA, ketamine, and methamphetamine, which had been found in his system during a partial autopsy along with crack cocaine and benzodiazepine.
Now, a toxicology report - which has already been communicated with Liam's family - revealed he had only consumed alcohol, cocaine and a prescribed anti-depressant in the hours before his death.
Payne’s body was finally brought back over to the UK earlier this week, with his funeral set to be held in the coming days.
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Liam's father visited the memorial Argentinian fans had made two days after his death
REUTERS
The singer's father Geoff Payne flew to Argentina two days after his son’s death and was pictured reading messages at a shrine fans had made outside the hotel.
The star’s fans have requested a permanent "structure or mural" be put in place in his home city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands.
