TWO men accused of supplying Liam Payne with cocaine just hours before he fell to his death from a Buenos Aires hotel will face trial, Argentine prosecutors confirmed.
Waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz and ex-hotel worker Ezequiel David Pereyra have been behind bars since January, charged over the One Direction star’s death last October.
The pair will be put on the stand and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of drugs offences.
Prosecutors also revealed Liam had snorted and smoked cocaine in his room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel “up to a few minutes before his death.”
In a lengthy statement, Argentina’s public prosecution service said: “The two defendants remanded in custody as part of the court investigation into the circumstances surrounding Liam James Payne’s death, will go on trial accused of the crime of selling drugs.
“They are Braian Nahuel Paiz, 25, who met Payne while working as a waiter in a restaurant in Puerto Madero, and Ezequiel David Pereyra, 24, who was an employee at the Hotel CasaSur Palermo where the former One Direction member died eight months ago after falling from the balcony of room 310, in a proven state of intoxication with cocaine, alcohol and psychotropic drugs.”
An autopsy confirmed Payne died from polytrauma and internal and external bleeding.
Toxicology results showed alcohol levels of 2.7 grams per litre and traces of cocaine, methylecgonine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, and sertraline.
The statement added: “The forensic medical specialists who performed the autopsy indicated toxicology results showed the dead man consumed cocaine via his nose as well as inhaling it by smoking the drug.
“Consumption took place at least 72 hours prior to his death and up to a few minutes before his death.”
Paiz and Pereyra are the only suspects heading to trial.
Charges were dropped in February against three others, including Payne’s friend Rogelio Nores, hotel receptionist Esteban Grassi, and head of security Gilda Martin.
No trial date has been set, but proceedings are expected to begin soon.
Paiz, who previously denied selling drugs to Payne, insisted from jail he only shared cocaine with the singer.
The 25-year-old told outlet Infobae: “I don’t know what I’m doing here, I’m a good person.
“I shared drugs with Liam but I didn’t sell them.”
Describing himself as a drug user who started smoking marihuana as a youngster, he added: “All I want to do is start studying again and leave jail to work, like I was doing before.
“I regret now giving Liam my Instagram because it all spiralled from there.
“If I hadn’t I’d probably be working today, I’d be studying, I’d be doing videos because before meeting Liam I’d participated in the filming of a videoclip for YouTube for a singer and other videos for TV.
“I miss the freedom I had, I miss work, I miss my family, my mum and my sisters.”
A MAN throttled his neighbour during a row over a shared driveway and caused damage to their luxury Jaguar, a court has heard.
Trevor Hollisey, 72, is accused of grabbing neighbour Neil Ford by the throat for “ten to 15 seconds” and assaulting his wife, Michelle.
Mr Hollisey, who runs a bathroom and kitchen installation firm, is also alleged to have caused £1,363 worth of damage to Mr Ford’s Jaguar F-PACE during the incident last December.
The company director faces two charges of assault and one of criminal damage.
Wife Jennifer Hollisey, 79, also faces two charges of assault relating to the couple next door, as well as causing £3.99 of damage to her neighbour’s phone in the incident.
Both pleaded not guilty to the charges at Norwich Magistrates’ Court last week.
The court was told there was a “very messy history” to the row over the driveway, which the couple share with at least three other properties in the village of Bressingham in Norfolk.
The court heard prosecutor Katherine Newson say that the alleged victims and the defendants had fallen out in a “dispute over access to their driveway”.
Declan Gallagher, defending the couple, said it was a “confrontation” as a result of a “long-term dispute” and that “there is a very messy history to this”.
When magistrates were seeking a date for the trial, Mr Hollisey interjected and told the court they “have several holidays booked this year and next”.
The case has been set for a two-day trial at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court between March 10 and 11 next year.
The couple, of High Road, Bressingham, were given conditional bail and told to have no contact with their neighbours.
DJ superstar Steve Aoki kissed his wife Sasha’s bare baby bump after revealing he’s going to be a dad for the first time.
The 47-year-old EDM legend announced his wife, Sasha Sofine, 27, is pregnant during a gig in Dubai in January.
Now, they’ve thrown a baby shower in Las Vegas at which Steve showed his affection for Sasha and their soon-to-be-born son.
Steve wrote: “From the baby shower to the after party at Palm Tree, we can’t wait to welcome baby Rocky.”
They were congratulated by their celebrity pals, with Brody Jenner writing: “So happy for you brother. You are going to be the best Dad. My baby girl is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Diplo posted: “congrats papasan.”
Black Coffee shared: “Congrats [heart emojis].”
The pair were joined by family and friends at the feel-good event.
Dressed in a Taylor Swift vest and cap, Steve chugged drink from a baby bottle and gazed lovingly at Sasha on the day.
Guests decorated plain white baby vests and displayed them on a table.
Later in the day, Steve played a gig in Las Vegas and looked to be having the time of his life.
The couple married last July in Montenegro, seven years after his divorce from first wife Tiernan Cowling.
Sasha studied in Moscow, winning a regional rowing championship, and now works for LA-based social media app Locals.org as Head of Community Growth.
Steve’s live shows are synonymous with caking audience members.
Fans bring signs begging the DJ to launch huge cream cakes at them from the stage, which he happily obliges.
He has worked with the biggest names in music from Linkin Park and Louis Tomlinson to BTS and Lil Yachty.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS coach Jim Harbaugh underwent a heart procedure during the NFL’s offseason.
Harbaugh, 61, had a cardiac ablation and hip replacement surgery but revealed he is recovering well.
“The doctors can’t find anything wrong with me,” Harbaugh said, via Kris Rhim of ESPN. “A-grade.”
Harbaugh left the sideline during the Chargers’ Week 6 win over the Broncos on October 13.
And he announced after that game that he was diagnosed with atrial flutter.
A day later, he visited a cardiologist for his irregular heartbeat and was placed on medication.
Harbaugh was also put on a heart monitor for two weeks so doctors had more information about his condition.
Harbaugh has prior episodes of arrhythmia and had a heart procedure while coaching the San Francisco 49ers in 2012.
His hip replacement surgery corrected the limp he walked with for several years.
Also recently speaking out over a health condition was Deion Sanders.
The NFL legend left fans concerned after he was absent from the Colorado Buffaloes’ practice.
Sanders, 57, had reportedly been suffering from an unknown illness.
As a result, the Buffaloes’ head coach was forced to miss the team’s summer training camps.
His eldest son, Deion Sanders Jr, revealed that he was “feeling okay” during a YouTube livestream.
Sanders has now broken his silence on the matter with a statement on social media.
He thanked fans for all their kind messages and insisted that “everything is OKAY”.
Sanders also claimed that he is on his way back to work.
He wrote: “Wow, I am truly blessed for the abundance of well wishes, for all the thoughts and all of the prayers.
“THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I can assure you all that everything is OKAY and will continue to be so.
“God got me like no other. I have so much more work to do to glorify God so please believe God got me.
“I’m excited to get back to Colorado to be at home with my staff, team and all associated to our program.
“When we arrive back to Boulder, you will be updated on everything. Until then, I’M COMING BABY.”
CHIEFS behind a beloved soft cheese product have made waves by rolling out a limited-edition item that can be enjoyed with cocktails or in salads.
And shoppers will be able to buy a two-pack for $15.
Bosses behind the iconic brand Philadelphia have released a pack of olives jam-packed with cream cheese.
But, shoppers can only buy the item from the online marketplace Divina Market.
The product is yet to hit the shelves at popular retailers such as Walmart and Target.
And, the Philly-tini olives can be enjoyed as a snack, part of a meal, or relaxing at cocktail parties.
Shoppers have been told to expect a taste that is both savory and creamy.
But, they have been instructed to put the pack in the fridge once received.
The product has been released just in time for National Martini Day, which falls on June 19 this year.
“Philly-tini Olives are here to shake up dirty martinis this summer, giving a new and unexpected creamy twist to a classic happy hour combo,” Kelli Srivastava, senior brand manager for Philadelphia Cream Cheese, said.
The new product comes just months after Philadelphia released a cream-cheese flavored frosting product.
Bosses saw a gap in the market by releasing the product as most cream cheese frostings can be stored on the shelf.
Philadelphia’s product has to be refrigerated, per AllRecipes.
The brand has rolled out a series of new flavors in recent years.
In 2023, the company rolled out three new vegan cream cheese products.
The products were released following consumer research, where 70% of the 50 tasters surveyed said they exceeded expectations.
The flavors were original, chive and onion, and strawberry.
Last summer, bosses released two new flavors of whipped cream cheese.
One flavor was French onion, while the other was a chipotle-flavored product.
Philadelphia is not the only brand that has been releasing new items.
New items have been appearing on the menus of fast-food chains, and other family favorites.
Chick-fil-A bosses recently announced that the brand’s favorite peach milkshake has made a comeback for the 16th consecutive year.
The drink consists of the brand’s icedream dessert, peach puree, and is topped with whipped cream.
The U.S. Sun has reported on the new additions now on Starbucks’ summer menu.
Some of the new additions include a strawberries and cream cake pop, and an iced horchata oatmilk shaken espresso.
The brand has brought back its summer berry-flavored lemonade refresher drink.
CBS Sports has made a big change to The NFL Today for the 2025 season.
The popular pregame show will move to a new format this fall.
The NFL Today airs before Sunday action begins at 1 pm ET.
It often faces fierce competition from other pregame shows across the various networks.
Fox NFL Sunday airs at the same time, while ESPN shows Sunday NFL Countdown and NFL Network broadcasts GameDay Morning.
And CBS bosses have announced a change in format in an attempt to keep eyeballs on their show.
The NFL Today will hit the road for select shows in 2025.
It usually originates from CBS’ studios in New York City.
An announcement read, “This season, The NFL Today will hit the road on select Sundays with live, on-site shows for some of CBS Sports’ most-anticipated games of the 2025 NFL slate.
“The guys will kick things off in Week 1 from Lambeau Field as the Packers host the Lions on September 7.
“Additional games and locations for The NFL Today on the road to be announced during the season.”
The show went on the road during the 2024 season ahead of a massive AFC showdown.
CBS’ crew broadcast from Orchard Park in Buffalo, New York before the Buffalo Bills faced the Kansas City Chiefs.
“You gotta do this more often,” lead commentator Jim Nantz said on that show.
“I’ve been watching this show from the top.
“We’ve been doing this show for a long time
“This is new ground, this is the best.”
CBS’ move is likely to add more travel to Nate Burleson’s busy schedule.
He presents CBS Mornings on weekdays from their New York studios.
And The NFL Today going on the road means he’ll face added travel if he balances both jobs.
Fox NFL Sunday airs from a studio on Los Angeles, California.
Michael Strahan has faced similar busy travel schedules between Fox NFL Sunday and Good Morning America, which is filmed in New York.
GLANCING across the polo pitch, Arthur Edwards’ eyes land on the golden ‘D’ hanging around the young woman’s neck.
He approaches the shy young girl and after asking politely she agrees to pose for a photo, an image that would later go down in history.
It was the Sun’s royal photographer’s very first photograph of Lady Diana Spencer, then 19.
But rather than hitting the front page, the iconic portrait spent weeks in a drawer.
“Although I was told by royal equerries that Lady Diana Spencer was Prince Charles’ new girlfriend, I had a hard time believing it,” Arthur says.
“He was 32 at the time and I remember thinking ‘he’s not running around with teenagers.’”
However, six weeks later and by pure coincidence Arthur had their relationship confirmed.
Speaking as part of Life Stories, The Sun’s YouTube series that features ordinary people who have had extraordinary lives, he explains: “I was driving along the River Dee up in Balmoral to the Braemar Games and I saw Prince Charles fishing and next to him was Diana Spencer.
“So I jumped out of the car, grabbed the camera and rushed to snap a picture.
“She saw me, she rushed through the bushes. I managed to get a picture of him running up through the woods.
“Prince Charles was angry, god was he angry. He threw the fishing rod down and stormed off.
“The following day we ran the photo I had taken of Diana at the polo on the front page and underneath the headline was ‘Lady Diana Spencer, all the qualities to be Queen.’”
It was a career defining moment for Arthur who in half a century on The Sun, Arthur has travelled to 120 countries, taking photos of not just the Royal Family but many of the world’s biggest names.
But unlike many paps the lorry driver’s son, who left school at 15, was as much a hit with his subjects as he was with his editors.
Diana once described him as her favourite royal photographer and he was among those who regularly joined Prince Harry for a drink following a royal tour.
And last month he was congratulated by Queen Camilla personally when he picked up a Lifetime Achievement gong.
Arthur, 84, says that the secret to getting his subjects on side has always been to ‘ask nicely.’
He explains: “Most people are nice and if you’re pleasant you’ll get a similar reception back is what I have always found.
“One of the most iconic photographs I took of Diana in the see-through skirt in 1980 was taken because I travelled to the nursery she was working at and asked her nicely.
“I always say, you get more with sugar than you do with vinegar.”
However, Arthur is the first to admit that niceties weren’t always part of his nature and that while starting out he took an ‘aggressive approach.’
“When I started doing the job, I wasn’t bothered one way about the Royal Family,” he explains.
“The thing about the newspaper business is you can’t come back empty handed, editors don’t want excuses, they want pictures.
“So I was aggressive and some of the things I did then I’d be ashamed of today.”
Arthur says there is one incident that he particularly regrets from his early career.
“I went to the Bahamas in 1982 while Diana was pregnant with William and photographed her in a bikini on the beach with Charles,” he says.
“There would be uproar over that now.
“It was probably one of the things I regret because they didn’t see me as I was hiding in the bushes.
“I got great pictures of course but I got a lot of stick for it.
“The only person who was pleased with the photos was my editor, even the office driver was disgusted with what I had done.”
Our royal photographer, who still works full-time at 84, was presented with the first Lifetime Achievement gong at the British Press Awards in May.
Arthur, who joined The Sun in December 1974, received it as the biggest names in journalism gathered to salute the best in the business.
And Queen Camilla sent a congratulatory message on behalf of King Charles and herself.
She said: “I cannot think of anyone who deserves it more.
“Not just for your decades of hard graft and talent, but in recognition of the enduring respect, admiration and affection that I know is felt for you across your whole industry — and indeed across the Royal Household.
“For more years than either of us care to remember, you have brought your trademark charm, humour and outstanding skill to countless events.”
However, Arthur says that Diana was able to have the last laugh when she eventually confronted him about the photographs on the royal couple’s Australian tour the following year.
“During the tour Diana asked me how much I was paid for the pictures and I said, ‘nothing, ma’am. I said, I just got expenses like I was doing a court case in Bradford’,” he says.
“She smiled and said, ‘pass me the Kleenex.’
“She wasn’t offended, so I felt a lot better about it after that.”
It wasn’t just Diana who saw the funny side of some of Arthur’s more controversial photos.
“I remember one occasion when I was photographing a young Charles leaving a polo match in the late 70s. I caught the back of his head which showed his bald spot,” Arthur says.
While I was no superfan of the monarchy when I started out, as I spent more time with Charles I realised he was something very special
Arthur Edwards
“The following Wednesday, I’m at another polo match at Windsor and his security told me that Charles wanted a word with me.
“He asked me if I was the man who had taken the photo and then asked me how many people had seen it.
“When I told him the paper readership was around seven or eight million he said ‘oh my God, that’s why everyone is taking a photo of the back of my head wherever I go!’”
That was Arthur’s first conversation with the now King, and the pair have gone on to have many more since with the photographer one of the monarch’s greatest champions.
“While I was no superfan of the monarchy when I started out, as I spent more time with Charles I realised he was something very special,” Arthur says.
“Over the years I have observed him truly throw himself into his environmental and charity work with real passion.
“And so when he faced criticism from a government minister and Mr Murdoch asked me to write an opinion piece on our then future monarch I gladly did it.
“I highlighted all the good he did and he must have seen it because our relationship changed over time.
“I became a tremendous supporter of him from that onwards and ultimately so did the paper.
“He was no longer the playboy prince who was ridiculed for talking to his plants but a real champion of the nation and one of the reasons I am still working today at 84.”
Sadly, the same can not be said for the King’s youngest son.
Once one of Prince Harry’s biggest supporters, Arthur says that he has been astonished by his ‘cruelty.’
“When it comes to a reconciliation I never say never but I think the problem is the damage has been done,” Arthur says.
“While the Oprah interview might have been Meghan’s doing, the tell-all Spare book was all Harry and that was pretty damn cruel.
“He mentioned that he wanted a reconciliation in his recent interview with the BBC but what he should have been saying was ‘sorry.’”
While he might think of himself as the ‘Spare’, Arthur says that his own experience proved that he was anything but.
“I think it’s such a shame Harry calls himself that as he was far more than a ‘spare’, he was a vital part of the royal family,” Arthur explains.
I think it’s such a shame Harry calls himself that as he was far more than a ‘spare’, he was a vital part of the royal family
Arthur Edwards
“He was by far as our readers were concerned, I thought he was their most popular member of the royal family.
“He was a super guy to work with and I loved working with him.
“At the end of every trip we would all go to the pub and they would close the bar for Harry and then we’d have an hour and a half where we’d chat.
“He would be candid too, Harry always told you when he didn’t like a picture
“I remember him once telling me that he would do everything in his power to help us out, and he really did.
“Now it’s hard to sort of say anything nice about him but in my heart, I hope one day, somehow he can come back and work for the country.”
Meanwhile Arthur, who has worked for The Sun for over 50 years, plans to continue serving his own role for as long as he can.
He adds: “My job is a way of life and it’s been a way of life for 50 years.
“I’ve enjoyed every bit of it and I plan to carry on as long as that’s still the case.
“As Piers Morgan once said, ‘treat every day as your last because one day you’ll be right’.”
