Coke

A HOTEL cleaner charged with selling Liam Payne cocaine has praised the tribute song penned by his One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson.

On track Dark To Light, from his new album, Louis asks if he could have done more to help someone in need.

Ezequiel David Pereyra, who worked at the Buenos Aires hotel where Liam, 31, fell to his death in October 2024, said: “He’s right. We all could have done more.”

The 22-year-old Argentine added: “If the hotel had acted differently, Liam could have been saved.

“What happened was very sad. Liam’s death was truly tragic and could have been prevented.”

Pereyra was charged with supplying drugs in January 2025 and sent to Marcos Paz jail to await trial.

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On December 30 he was released under house arrest after the court of appeals agreed he had family support, a fixed address and no criminal record.

He is now being represented by a new lawyer.

He told The Sun: “I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to be with my family and I am trying to handle all this as best as I can.”

Waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz, 25, is also accused of supplying cocaine.

It doesn’t look like there’s going to be a trial any time soon. This could take years.

Source

He was released under house arrest two weeks before Pereyra and mum Sandra said: “I still can’t believe he’s with me.”

Both men face 15 years in jail if convicted.

A trial date has yet to be set and sources said it is unlikely there will be one this year — causing fresh heartache for Liam’s family.

The evidence is being re-examined by judges who will decide whether the case can proceed.

A source said: “They still haven’t been able to agree which is why they had to release Pereyra and Paiz.

“They can’t keep them behind bars awaiting a trial forever.

“It doesn’t look like there’s going to be a trial any time soon. This could take years.”

‘Biggest mistake’

In October, on the anniversary of Liam’s death, Pereyra exclusively spoke to The Sun from jail for the first time offering his ­condolences to the star’s family.

He claimed bosses at the CasaSur Palermo hotel turned a blind eye to Liam’s drug use in the month he died.

He said: “They had him in an isolated bunker and let him do anything he wanted including drugs in the room, and public areas.

“Bosses said he was making them too much money, triple the money.

“The biggest mistake was not calling an ambulance when Payne passed out in the lobby.”

Liam had flown out with girlfriend Kate Cassidy for a five-day holiday, to see his ex-1D bandmate Niall Horan in concert.

Liam extended the trip but Kate returned to the US.

An autopsy confirmed he died from multiple trauma and internal and external bleeding.

Toxicology reports revealed alcohol, cocaine and an antidepressant.