Liam Payne’s friend shares bombshell statement denying ‘abandoning’ One Direction star – as 3 are arrested over death

LIAM Payne’s friend has shared a bombshell statement denying “abandoning” the One Direction star.

Argentinian cops have charged three people over 31-year-old Liam’s death.

Close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores denied he was one of the trio arrested.

Nores told The Sun: “I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened.

“I could have never imagined something like this would happen.”

He is thought to be one of the trio “charged” with offences – however sources familiar with the Argentine judicial system say they have instead been arrested and placed under official suspicion.

They are believed to be accusing Nores of being “abandoning a person followed by death” in relation to the singer’s demise.

They are also accusing the individual of being complicit in the supply of drugs, crimes which are punishable by a prison sentence of up to 15 years on conviction.

Two hotel workers are also among the three individuals now being formally investigated by authorities.

It comes after the One Direction star, 31, died after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palmero Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16.

Nores told The Sun: “I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened.

“There were over 15 people at 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 17th as a witness.

“I haven’t spoken to any police officer or prosecutor ever since.

“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 23rd.

“I’m really heart broken with this tragedy, and I’ve missing my friend every day.”

It comes after three people were charged in connection with Liam’s death.

Those charged are someone who was close to Payne, a hotel employee and a suspected drug dealer, Argentina’s public prosecutor announced in a statement.

Liam died after he fell from his third floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 16.

The three have now been arrested and charged with “abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics”.

The statement said: “Liam Payne was not fully conscious or was experiencing a state of noticeable decrease or loss of consciousness at the time of the fall.”

It added one of the accused “accompanied the artist on a daily basis” during his stay in Argentina.

A hotel employee is also accused of supplying Payne with cocaine twice while he stayed at the hotel, prosecutors added.

A third person is accused of supplying drugs to the singer twice during his stay on October 14, the statement said.

Madrea confirmed they are both charged with two acts each of supplying narcotics.

The prosecutor’s office said it had heard several dozen testimonies and analysed more than 800 hours of CCTV footage from security cameras.

They said they carried out a “forensic extraction” of Liam’s phone, sifting through his call logs, messages and social media accounts.

Nine raids have also been carried out on properties in Buenos Aires.

A post-mortem concluded Liam’s death was caused by “multiple trauma” and “internal and external haemorrhage” after the fall.

Prosecutors said there was nothing to indicate any third party was involved in the death.

They also ruled out “self-harm”, according to a forensic psychiatric report.

This comes after the singer’s body was returned home yesterday.

The star’s dad Geoff was also on the flight into Heathrow — with the body then transferred to Liam’s home town of Wolverhampton.

His funeral has been arranged and is expected to take place in the West Midlands city within ten days.

A source said: “Plans are in motion for Liam’s funeral and a date has been set.

“His family are determined to keep things as private as ­possible to allow them to grieve but also understand the global interest.”

His former One Direction bandmates — Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson — are expected to be at the funeral, as well as girlfriend Kate Cassidy.

The X Factor mogul and close friend Simon Cowell is also set to fly to the UK for the service.

Liam’s dad and mum Karen had been working around the clock to bring their son’s body home.

 Geoff had flown out to Argentina and visited Casa Sur Hotel — where pop star Liam fell to his death — to view fans’ tributes.

A source close to Liam’s family previously told The Sun: “Geoff is living every parent’s worst nightmare.

“He has been so moved by the outpouring of love and the tributes that have come in from across the world.”

This comes after Argentinian cops raided the singer’s hotel last week looking for information on alleged drug dealing staff.

Cops believe Liam was smuggled drugs hidden in a Dove soap box and were said to be probing two hotel staff.

Prosecutors said in a statement they believe Liam was “in a state of semi or total unconsciousness” during a substance-induced episode when he fell.

Reports say Liam was acting erratically and had smashed his laptop and had to be carried back to his room following an incident earlier in the day in the hotel lobby.

He told one fan just an hour before his death that he loved Buenos Aires so much he wanted to buy a house there.

But at some point, things took a tragic turn and the hotel’s reception manager frantically called cops telling them that Liam was under the influence of drink and drugs and had trashed his room.

The receptionist called emergency services saying: “We have a guest who is destroying everything in his room. We need someone to come.

“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.”

An insider has said Liam was trying to get clean and had been given an all-clear on a drugs test before his death.

They said: “Liam had tried really hard to get clean, then he’s been preyed upon.

“These people just care about money – they don’t care about putting people’s lives in danger.

“It’s an evil trade. This is all just tragic.”

Last month Liam’s first song after tragic death was set to be released.

Musician Sam Pounds announced plans to release a duet with Liam called Do No Wrong on Friday, November 1.

However Liam’s posthumous single was postponed.

Liam’s song Teardrops – which revealed the heartbreaking challenges in his love life – re-entered the charts at number 7 after his death.

The singer shot to fame on The X Factor in 2010.

He was part of boy band One Direction alongside Niall, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson.

Liam and ex girlfriend Cheryl share son Bear, seven.