© REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Two months after the tragic death of One Direction star Liam Payne, Argentinian authorities have filed charges against five individuals. Payne, 31, died on October 16, 2024, after falling from the balcony of his Buenos Aires hotel room.
The charges include manslaughter for hotel manager Gilda Martin and receptionist Esteban Grassi, who placed a 911 call shortly before Payne’s death reporting his erratic behavior and suspected drug use. Two additional hotel employees, Braian Paiz and Ezequiel Pereyra, face charges for allegedly supplying Payne with drugs.
Payne’s manager and friend, Rogelio “Roger” Nores, has also been charged with manslaughter, specifically “abandonment,” for allegedly failing to notify Payne’s family of a relapse and for not responding to police attempts to contact him after Payne’s death. Nores, who was reportedly on vacation at the time, maintains his innocence, as does Paiz. If convicted, Nores could face up to 15 years in prison.
An investigation into the incident suggests Payne may have attempted to climb from his balcony after being locked in his room by hotel staff. A toxicology report revealed the presence of cocaine, crack cocaine, a depressant, and “pink cocaine” (a mixture of several drugs) in Payne’s system. The autopsy report cited a cranial fracture and severe internal and external bleeding as the cause of death. It’s believed Payne lost consciousness during his attempted escape, leading to the fatal fall.
Payne’s funeral took place on November 20th and was attended by numerous friends and colleagues, including his former One Direction bandmates. The legal proceedings are expected to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding Payne’s death and bring some measure of closure to his family and friends.
