Liam Payne could have fallen victim to 'high purity' drugs, say forensic experts

Forensic experts say could have fallen victim to “high-purity” drugs whose make-up in Argentina could have been different to what he was familiar with.

Respected Argentinian news portal Infobae reported yesterday traces of cocaine had been found inside the singer’s body, although it said tests on a white powder found in his room had so far proved “inconclusive.”

Other unconfirmed reports originating in the US claimed a cocktail of drugs including designer narcotic pink cocaine containing MDMA, ketamine, methamphetamine had been found during a partial autopsy along with crack cocaine and benzodiazepine.

Police sources confirmed last week clonazepam, a benzodiazepine used to control seizures or fits due to epilepsy as well panic attacks, was taken away following a search of the singer’s third-floor deluxe suite at the Hotel CasaSur Palermo where he died last Wednesday following his 40ft fall.

Forensic toxicologist Fernando Cardini said overnight the fact Liam was in a different country could have triggered the "substance-induced", “semi-conscious” or “unconscious” state he is said to have been in when he plunged to his death.

Cardini told Argentine TV channel Todo Noticias’ news programme ‘Está pasando’ of the alleged drugs cocktail Liam had reportedly consumed: “That’s a very complicated mix of chemical substances for any living organism.

“There was a situation in which a person consumed drugs, but being in a different country, perhaps it didn’t have the same concentration of drug that he bought. Perhaps that got the better of him.”

He added as investigators continue to probe the tragedy which has been categorised as an “inconclusive death” by Argentinian prosecutors ahead of further tests to determine what substances Liam had consumed: “The forensic experts said there was no evidence of any self-defence injuries before the fall.

“Someone committing suicide, before falling, has the instinct of putting his hands out to protect himself. He died from the fall, but the combination of drugs was very important.”

Argentinian prosecutors gave an unexpected insight late last week into the ongoing probe to determine why the former singer plunged from a third-floor balcony at his boutique hotel.

Local prosecutors have confirmed they have questioned three hotel workers and two women subsequently identified as prostitutes who had been with Liam in the hours before his death.

They also revealed the 31-year-old had suffered 25 “life-threatening” separate injuries in the 40ft fall while he was “unconscious or semi-conscious” around 5pm last Wednesday afternoon local time which they linked to a probable drink and drug-fuelled “psychotic episode.”

They have said there is no indication at this stage of any “third party” involvement. The initial autopsy, performed last Wednesday night, showed Liam had died of multiple trauma injuries which had caused “internal and external haemorrhaging.” They are understood to have included a skull fracture.

A hotel manager phoned 911, the UK equivalent of 999, on Wednesday afternoon just before Liam died to say: “We have a guest who’s off his head on drugs and is destroying everything in his room. We need someone to come.”

In a second call he added: “we need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger. 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.”

Police trying to find out who supplied Liam with the drugs he is suspected of taking before his death are said to have looked into whether his dealer was a hotel worker. Pals of the singer have claimed he was clean just days before the tragedy.

Sources close to the singer said he entered Argentina on September 30 and was forced to extend his stay there due to issues renewing his expiring American visa. He arrived with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy but she left Buenos Aires to return to the States shortly before Liam died.

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