Liam Payne's final hours descended into chaos, according to sworn statements from two escorts who say the One Direction singer hired them for sex at Buenos Aires' CasaSur Palermo Hotel on the morning of his death.
The women, identified by The Mail on Sunday as Aldana Serrano and Lucila Goitea, told investigators Payne became distraught after realising he had no cash to cover their $5,000 (£3,700) fee, despite his £21 million fortune.
One of the women said: “We told him we only wanted money so he took [the watch] and smashed it. He told us he didn’t care about the money. And then he broke the TV, he punched it. He made us understand that he could smash everything because he knew he could pay for it.”
Rolex smashed and TV punched
According to the women, Payne offered them his £30,000 gold Rolex before destroying it and claiming he could "have ten of those." He then punched the hotel television three times, pleaded on his knees for them to stay, saying money did not make him happy. He also performed his own songs while drunk and asked for cocaine.
The escorts left the hotel and told staff about Payne's erratic conduct. They say they returned at 4pm to retrieve belongings and Payne apologised. He fell from his third-floor balcony at around 5.07pm on October 16, 2024. Toxicology tests later found cocaine, alcohol and the sedative Klonopin in his system.
Drug charges and hotel moves
Hotel worker Ezequiel Pereyra, 22, and waiter Braian Paiz, 26, have been charged with supplying drugs. Both deny the charges and have been bailed after spending months in prison.
Payne had been in Buenos Aires for 16 days before his death, waiting for his US visa to be renewed. He was said to be sober for the first two weeks with girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 27, and businessman Rogelio "Roger" Nores, 38. His behaviour is believed to have worsened after Cassidy left for Miami on October 14 and Nores also departed.
He reportedly trashed his room at the five-star Park Hyatt hotel and drunkenly ranted at staff when asked to leave. He then moved to the four-star CasaSur Palermo, where he called the two escorts.
Inquest on hold
Payne, 31, is survived by his son Bear, whose mother is singer Cheryl Cole. His family is still waiting for a full inquest. At a pre-inquest hearing on May 7, senior coroner Crispin Butler of Buckinghamshire said no police updates had been received since the previous review in January last year.
"Since the last pre-inquest review, we have had no further disclosure of evidence from Argentina via the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office," Butler said. "My understanding is the investigations are continuing and I await further developments. Documentation received prior to this pre-inquest hearing have undergone a process of translation."
The inquest was adjourned for a further pre-inquest review on December 1.
