Liam Payne Death Case: Charges Against Friend, Hotel Staff Dropped

There is an update on who might be held responsible for Liam Payne‘s death.

Approximately five months after the former member of One Direction tragically fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires while under the influence, as reported by Rolling Stone, three out of the five individuals accused in his death have had their charges dismissed, according to a decision made by Argentina’s Court of Appeals.

Initially, we find Roger Nores, who, together with hotel employees Gilda Martin and Esteban Grassi, were accused of negligent manslaughter.

Upon the resolution of this matter, I expressed to Rolling Stone, “I’m relieved this ordeal has ended. I’m thrilled that I can now journey to the United Kingdom, allowing me to bid farewell to my cherished friend.

According to the court’s decision, as reported by the source, the judges stated that Nores was not liable for Payne obtaining or drinking alcohol, and under no circumstances could he have prevented Payne’s demise.

Although it’s possible that Nores might have prevented Payne from acquiring substances had he stayed with him throughout the night, the judges agreed that “it’s not unreasonable to think that, given his addictive behavior, Payne could still have procured these substances, even under the watchful eye of a caring family.

In addition, the judges allegedly referred to an email that Nores had written to Geoff Payne, dated August 2024 (two months before his passing). This email contained expressions of worry about his friend’s wellbeing.

In contrast to alleging that Nores neglected to share information and alert the victim’s family, the verdict indicates they chose not to disclose the email in which the defendant voiced his worries about Payne’s wellbeing and admitted he would be unable to care for it.

TopMob News has reached out to Payne’s dad as well as Nores for comment but has not yet heard back.

In a similar turn of events, hotel manager Martin and receptionist Grassi, who faced charges for returning an intoxicated guest named Payne to his room, ultimately found themselves acquitted. This decision was made by the judges, as reported in Rolling Stone, due to lack of substantial evidence suggesting that their actions were careless, reckless, or simply negligent.

The three individuals’ decisions in this case do not tarnish their reputation or integrity.

Two more employees at the hotel, Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz, who allegedly provided cocaine to Payne, continue to be imprisoned as they wait for their upcoming trials, according to Rolling Stone.

TopMob News previously attempted to contact Pereyra and Paiz for comment but did not hear back.

For more on the investigation, keep reading.

It was confirmed by the Emergency Medical Attention System (SAME) to Telemundo that Liam Payne passed away on October 16, 2024, at the age of 31 in Argentina.

The singer met a tragic end after falling fatally from a third-story balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires’ Palermo district, where he was temporarily residing, as stated by the Oct. 17 release from Prosecutor’s Office No. 14 translated from Spanish to English. An autopsy revealed that Payne succumbed to severe injuries and bleeding sustained during the fall.

Although the investigation is ongoing due to uncertainties surrounding the cause of death, it was noted that the musician seemed to be alone at the time of the incident and may have been experiencing a relapse due to substance abuse issues. Payne had publicly discussed his struggles with sobriety, mentioning in a July 2023 YouTube video that he’d undergone treatment for approximately 100 days and abstained from alcohol for around six months prior.

According to the statement, coroners indicated that Payne’s autopsy showed 25 injuries consistent with those resulting from a fall from a great height. The report also mentioned that fatal head injuries were discovered, while numerous internal and external hemorrhages in the skull, chest, abdomen, and limbs contributed to his death.

Furthermore, forensic experts failed to find any defensive wounds on the former One Direction member, and no signs of third-party involvement were observed either. However, questions persisted about Payne’s condition at the time of the fall.

The statement went on to say that due to his posture upon discovery and the injuries sustained in the fall, it was presumed that Payne did not attempt to protect himself and might have fallen into a state of semi- or total unconsciousness.

Medical examiners sought further clarification, requesting histopathological, biochemical, and toxicological studies. The statement emphasized that an examination of the stomach contents, alcohol, and toxins in the blood, vitreous humor, bile, nasal swab, and urine was necessary for determining the presence of alcohol and toxins.

A provisional toxicology report suggested that Payne had substances in his system at the time of his demise, as informed to The New York Times by an official with firsthand knowledge.

The toxicology report indicated that there were traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant found within his system, as stated in a press release on November 7th by Argentina’s prosecuting authority.

The authorities do not think that the person died by suicide, as suggested in a press release on November 7th from Argentina’s public prosecutor. Instead, they believe that he might have been unconscious or unaware of his actions when he fell, which makes it unlikely that his death was intentional or voluntary. Furthermore, Judge Laura Bruniard of the National Criminal and Correctional Court No. 34 also suggested in a press release on December 30th that it’s possible the person tried to leave his room from the balcony but accidentally fell due to his state at the time.

According to a statement released on Oct. 17, it seems that Payne fell from his balcony on the third floor of CasaSur Palermo hotel at around 5:07 p.m. local time. Earlier, the hotel had contacted emergency services for help regarding a guest who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and had damaged some items in the room. When officers from the 14B Neighborhood Police Station arrived, Payne had already fallen and died at the scene due to the severity of his injuries.

Upon searching the room, police found substances that appeared to be narcotics and alcoholic drinks, although further confirmation was needed from experts. The room also contained numerous broken objects and furniture.

Authorities were also interested in who had been in the room before Payne’s fall. Five statements were taken from three hotel staff members and two women who had spent time with the musician in his room before leaving when the incident occurred.

The statement added that the prosecution was not only looking to determine the circumstances surrounding the musician’s death but also investigating any potential involvement of third parties in events leading up to Payne’s death.

In an emergency call made to authorities by a hotel staff member, as reported by Telemundo and later translated by NBC News, the individual can be heard asking for help due to a guest who appears to have consumed excessive amounts of drugs and alcohol. The caller described the situation, saying “When he is awake, he becomes violent. He’s destroying the entire room. We need you to send someone, please.”

The staff member then expressed additional worry, stating “We urgently need assistance from someone, as I’m not sure if he poses a risk. The guest is in a room with a balcony, and we’re concerned that he may do something dangerous.”

It was not mentioned on the call who the guest in question was, though NBC News reached out to Payne’s representative for comment but did not receive a response.

Argentina’s public prosecutor declared on November 7 that three individuals have been indicted following the discovery of illegal activities, as stated in a press release translated from Spanish.

The primary suspect is an individual who was with the artist daily while he was in Buenos Aires and is charged with the crimes of abandonment resulting in death.

The second defendant is a hotel employee facing charges for providing cocaine to Liam Payne on two occasions during his stay at the hotel, and the third suspect, another drug supplier, is accused of providing cocaine on two separate instances, on October 14.

Initially, it was believed that no one was held accountable in the case. However, a later revelation disclosed that five individuals were indicted. In a Dec. 30 press release from Argentina’s prosecutor’s office, it was mentioned that the hotel manager identified as GAM, the receptionist ERG, and Payne’s representative RLN were charged with negligent homicide. Additionally, an employee with initials EDP and a waiter BNP were charged for drug trafficking.

The BBC, quoting the prosecutor’s office, named the first three as Gilda Martin, Esteban Grassi, and Roger Nores, while the latter two were identified as Ezequiel Pereyra, the hotel employee, and Braian Paiz, the waiter.

The Dec. 30 release also mentioned that a judge assigned a different criminal classification for RLN instead of the initial abandonment charge.

Nores told the Daily Mail that he “never abandoned” Payne and clarified that he wasn’t his manager.

According to a statement released on November 7th by the prosecutor’s office, extensive and careful investigative steps were taken to determine the circumstances surrounding Payne’s death. This included obtaining testimonies from numerous hotel staff members, family, friends, medical experts, chemists, and psychiatrists.

The investigation also involved a thorough review of over 800 hours of video footage from security cameras within the hotel and on public roads. Moreover, the forensic extraction of Payne’s cell phone data was conducted, which allowed for analysis of his calls, messages, social media activity, and conversations on messaging apps.

Furthermore, additional data was obtained and examined from other cell phones, such as those belonging to hotel staff and witnesses who willingly provided their devices to support their statements. Other information that was scrutinized included records of the guests and orders at the hotel bar/restaurant to identify anyone who visited Payne and what they consumed.

Lastly, nine search warrants were requested for homes in Buenos Aires as part of the investigation.

Nevertheless, the report dated November 7th stated that the investigation needs to carry on, as there are remaining tasks such as accessing the victim’s damaged netbook and other confiscated devices, which are yet to be unlocked and examined.

Payne was vacationing with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy in Argentina, and they had been documenting their trip together. Photos and videos posted on the Snapchat account of the singer, known for “Strip That Down,” showed them enjoying quality time, discussing horseback riding plans, and having a lovely day in Argentina, just before Payne’s tragic fall as seen by NBC News screenshots. The last snap shared from his account on the day of his death was a picture of him and Cassidy in their swimsuits.

On social media, it was mentioned that Cassidy was returning to Florida to be with their dog Nala while Payne remained in Argentina.

Cassidy expressed her eagerness to return home in a TikTok video posted on October 14, as she was traveling back to the U.S. She confessed that while she loves South America, she dislikes staying in one place for extended periods. Her initial plan of staying for five days had turned into two weeks, at which point she felt an urgent need to return home.

Following Payne’s death, Cassidy admitted to feeling utterly lost and like the recent events didn’t seem real.

In a part of her October 18 Instagram post, Cassidy wrote, “Liam, my sweet angel. You are everything. I want you to know that I loved you without condition and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you, Liam.

Following Liam Payne’s demise, his One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan publicly expressed their sorrow. On October 17th, they posted a joint message on Instagram, saying, “We are utterly devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. As time passes and we all manage to cope, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and come to terms with the loss of our beloved brother.”

One Direction was formed on The X Factor in 2010 and achieved great success before disbanding in 2015. In their joint message, they also mentioned, “The memories we shared with him will be cherished forever.” They continued, “At this moment, our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans who adored him as much as we did. We will deeply miss him. Our love goes out to you, Liam.”

Individual tributes were also shared by each member. Niall Horan wrote on October 18th, “The bond and friendship we had is rare in a lifetime. I feel incredibly fortunate that I got to see him recently. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that our final goodbye would be forever. It’s heartbreaking.”

Zayn Malik announced the postponement of the U.S. leg of his tour due to “the tragic loss we experienced this week.”

Many celebrities, family members, and friends have paid tribute to Payne (read their tributes here).

2025-02-20 19:47

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