Liam Payne's music teacher was 'humbled to have him in her life'

by · Mail Online

Liam Payne's former drama teacher has shared that she was 'humbled' to have known the singer from a young age, after his tragic death at the age of 31.

The One Direction star plunged from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, and died instantly from multiple injuries. 

Speaking to ITN on Thursday, teacher Jodie Richards said that she always remembers Liam's 'silly jokes', and recalled the hilarious moment he excitedly brought his new pet turtle into school.

She said: 'I want everyone how he changed the music industry, they were the first boyband to be put together and go global. 

'And I want people to remember him for what he contributed to the music industry, and all the good things he's done for charity.

Liam Payne 's former drama teacher has shared that she was 'humbled' to have known the singer from a young age, after his tragic death at the age of 31
The One Direction star died after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, on Wednesday (pictured in a Snapchat post hours before his death)

'I will remember him for all the sily little jokes he gave me. I remember him coming here for rehearsals, and he was desperate for a terrapin for his birthday.

'And his Mum had bought him a terrapin and he wanted to show everyone this terrapin he had. 

'I remember him bringing it into me and he was so excited, but they live a good 25-30 minutes so it was like ''there you go, but it's got to go now because it can only be out of water for an hour'' so just the funny times I'll always remember him.

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'He was my friend and for that I'll have those memories, for life, I'm humbled the fact that I have him in my life, in lots of different aspects, but I'm humbled that he was my friend.'

It comes as it was revealed that police investigating Liam's death are searching for two 'key witnesses' who could be among the last people to see him alive.

Liam died instantly after suffering multiple injuries that led to 'internal and external haemorrhaging', when he fell from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday.

Argentine investigators are now hunting for two women who spent time with Payne at the Casa Sur hotel the night before his shock death.

Both women are said to have left the hotel yesterday after waiting for the star in the lobby, Argentine outlet Infobae reports. 

There is no indication that the women could be involved in his death, but police hope they can help piece together Payne's final moments before he plunged to his death at around 5pm local time. 

Speaking to ITN, teacher Jodie Richards said that she always remembers Liam's 'silly jokes', and recalled the moment he brought his new pet turtle into school (Liam is pictured in a childhood snap)
She said: 'He was my friend and for that I'll have those memories, for life, I'm humbled the fact that I have him in my life' (Liam is pictured in a childhood snap)

Payne's girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, had returned to Florida four days prior to his death, telling her followers 'I just needed to go home' after their planned 'five-day trip' was extended to two weeks.

As more details emerge from the hours before Payne's death, one hotel guest staying in the same hotel as Payne recalled hearing 'violent noises'.

It comes as:

It comes after Argentine media, including major broadsheets, published troubling images believed to be taken from Payne's suite which shows white powder, burnt foil and a smashed up TV screen. 

Payne was found dead by police who say they found the popstar's medicines including clonazepam - a drug which is used to control epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms and panic disorders. 

There was a frantic call to 911 from hotel staff about 'an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol' who was 'smashing up his room' minutes before he died.

It comes as it was revealed that police investigating Liam's death are searching for two 'key witnesses' who could be among the last people to see him alive (pictured in Argentina) 

Payne had arrived in South America with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy on September 30, staying in Argentina for two weeks after only planning to spend 'five days' there.

During their extended trip, Payne was reunited with Niall Horan after going to watch his former bandmate perform at the Movistar Arena, Buenos Aires, on October 2.

On October 12, Katie, 25, returned home to Florida after saying 'I just need to go home' in a TikTok video, with Payne staying behind and checking into the £230-a-night Casa Sur hotel alone.

Just 48 hours before his death, on October 14, it emerged that Payne's ex-fiancée, Ms Maya Henry, had started legal proceedings against Payne, accusing him of obsessively contact and 'weaponising' his fans against her. 

Liam's family have said they are 'heartbroken' by his death aged 31, adding that the former One Direction star will 'forever live in our hearts'.

A family statement said: 'We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.'

Payne's uncle Roger Harris also told MailOnline this afternoon: 'We are all just deeply saddened and trying to come to terms with it. I just hope everybody gives them some privacy really and allows them to come to terms with it. That's all I can say.'