5 People charged over death of Liam Payne

An Argentine judge has charged five individuals in connection with the death of Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, who passed away on October 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

Two of the accused, Braian Paiz, a waiter, and Ezequiel Pereyra, a hotel employee, are in preventive detention. They are charged with supplying Payne with drugs, facing potential prison sentences ranging from 4 to 15 years.

Three others, including the hotel’s manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Payne’s friend Roger Nores, have been charged with manslaughter. They are accused of negligence and failure to provide care and assistance to Payne during his stay.

Payne’s autopsy revealed that he died from multiple injuries and external bleeding. Toxicology reports indicated the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his system at the time of his death.

Judge Laura Bruniard criticized the involved parties for their negligence, stating that Payne’s death was ‘foreseeable’ and that he should have been left in a safe place until medical assistance arrived.

The investigation continues as authorities seek to determine the full extent of each suspect’s involvement in the events leading up to Payne’s tragic death.