Liam Payne's Friend Breaks Silence Amid Homicide Charge Shocker

Roger Nores is sharing insight into his friendship with Liam Payne.

Following the accusation of negligent homicide by Argentine prosecutors regarding the death of the One Direction band member in October, he discussed the details of his past connection with the deceased 31-year-old.

Or:
After the businessman was charged for negligent homicide in relation to the death of the One Direction singer last October, he went into detail about his history with the 31-year-old who passed away.

According to Nores’ statement in an interview with Rolling Stone, published on February 11, he emphasized that he and Payne provided ample emotional support for each other. He clarified that neither of them ever indulged in drugs and focused on maintaining a sober lifestyle together. The heart of their relationship, he explained, was the emotional support they offered one another. During trying times with his girlfriend and family, Nores found solace in discussing relationships and feelings with Payne.

In December, it was confirmed that Nores was indicted for negligent homicide and accused of not fulfilling his duties of care, assistance, and aid, and of abandoning Payne while aware of his substance abuse issues. However, this energy tycoon, who has filed a lawsuit against Geoff Payne, Payne’s father, for defamation due to a statement he made to Argentine authorities, disputed the implications of these charges regarding his responsibilities.

According to Nores, he was merely a friend to him. He wasn’t a doctor, psychologist, or lawyer. He didn’t have the authority to make decisions for him. He wasn’t his business manager or father. There are only certain things one can control in such a relationship.

In response to the defamation lawsuit filed concerning his father, Geoff Payne’s estate stated (as reported by People) that “he categorically denies having made any defamatory statements or causing any harm.

On October 16th, Payne met his end after falling from a 40-foot balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. A toxicology report, acquired by TopMob News, revealed that at the time of his passing, he had traces of cocaine, alcohol, and a prescription antidepressant in his body.

Besides Nores, four other individuals are facing charges related to the death of a former member of One Direction (who sang alongside Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik). This includes CasaSur Palermo’s manager and the hotel’s receptionist, who have been charged with negligent homicide. Additionally, two other hotel employees are accused of providing the singer with cocaine. It is currently unknown if any of the defendants have legal representation or have responded to requests for comment from TopMob News.

Before his passing, Payne openly discussed his battles against substance and alcohol dependency, tracing them back to the peak of One Direction’s popularity.

Liam shared on the The Diary of a CEO podcast in 2021 that as our band grew so large, the only way they could keep us safe was by confining us to our individual rooms. However, he added, these rooms came equipped with mini-bars. Eventually, he decided to throw a solo party by enjoying the mini-bar himself.

Keep reading for everything to know about Liam’s tragic death…

On October 16, 2024, it was confirmed by the Emergency Medical Attention System (SAME) to Telemundo that Liam Payne, aged 31, had tragically passed away in Argentina.

The singer met a tragic end by falling fatally from a third-story hotel balcony in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, where he was temporarily residing, according to reports from the Prosecutor’s Office No. 14. An autopsy confirmed that Payne died due to extensive injuries and internal and external bleeding caused by the fall.

Although investigations are ongoing as there is no definitive information regarding the cause of death (referred to as a “doubtful death”), it was reported that he was alone at the time of the incident and may have been experiencing a drug-related episode.

Payne had openly discussed his struggle with sobriety in the past, revealing in a YouTube video from July 2023 that he had spent approximately 100 days in treatment and had abstained from alcohol for around six months.

Based on the announcement, coroners stated that Payne’s autopsy revealed 25 injuries consistent with those from a fall from a height. The report further indicated that head injuries were fatal, while extensive bleeding in the skull, chest, abdomen, and limbs contributed to his death.

In their examination of the One Direction alum, forensic experts found no signs of defensive wounds and no injuries suggesting involvement of external parties. However, questions remained about Payne’s condition at the time of the fall.

The release added that due to the position of the body and the nature of the falls injuries, it was assumed that Payne did not attempt to protect himself and may have fallen into a state of semi- or total unconsciousness.

As medical examiners sought more information, the announcement noted they requested histopathological, biochemical, and toxicological studies. Specifically, they required analysis of the stomach contents, alcohol and toxins in the blood, vitreous humor, bile, nasal swab, and urine for the determination of alcohol and toxins.

A preliminary toxicology report disclosed that Payne had drugs in his system at the time of his death, according to an official who spoke with The New York Times.

According to a November 7 press release from Argentina’s public prosecutor, it was found through toxicology tests that he had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his system.

The authorities do not think he committed suicide as suggested by a press release on November 7th from Argentina’s public prosecutor. Instead, the statement indicates that he might have been unconscious when he fell due to his condition at the time. This implies that any action taken by him, if it occurred, was likely unintentional and involuntary because, in his state, he wouldn’t have known or understood what he was doing. In a later press release on December 30th, Judge Laura Bruniard of National Criminal and Correctional Court No. 34 also suggested the possibility that, given Payne’s condition, he might have tried to exit his room from the balcony and accidentally fallen.

According to the official account, the October 17 statement suggested that Payne might have fallen from his third-floor balcony at CasaSur Palermo hotel, which occurred around 5:07 p.m. local time. Prior to this incident, the hotel had called emergency services for assistance regarding a guest who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and had damaged some items in their room.

Upon arrival, SAME officials and police from the 14B Neighborhood Police Station found that Payne had already fallen from his balcony and died instantly due to the gravity of his injuries. The room search yielded substances suspected to be narcotics and alcoholic drinks, although further confirmation was needed from experts at the time. The room also contained several broken objects and furniture.

Authorities were also interested in identifying who had been in the room before Payne’s fall, taking five statements from three hotel staff members and two women who had spent time with the musician prior to his death but had left the hotel during the incident.

The prosecution explained that their reconstruction of Payne’s death was just one part of the investigation; they were also looking into potential third-party involvement in events leading up to the victim’s demise.

In an emergency call made to authorities, a hotel worker is heard pleading for help, describing a guest who appears to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The guest, when alert, becomes destructive, damaging the room extensively. The employee requests immediate assistance, concerned that the guest may pose a risk to himself due to his erratic behavior and the fact that he’s in a room with a balcony, which has them worried about potential life-threatening actions. At this point, it’s unclear if Payne was the identified guest in the call; NBC News contacted Payne’s representative for comment but did not receive a response.

Argentina’s public prosecutor announced on November 7 that three individuals have been indicted for alleged illegal activities as stated in a press release translated from Spanish. The main defendant is the person who accompanied the artist daily in Buenos Aires, and is charged with the crimes of abandoning a person resulting in death. A hotel employee is the second defendant, accused of providing cocaine to Liam Payne on two separate occasions while he was at the hotel. The third individual, also a drug supplier, faces charges for supplying cocaine to another person on two distinct occurrences on October 14.

Initially, it was believed that no one was held accountable in the case. However, further investigation uncovered that five individuals were indicted. According to a Dec. 30 press release from Argentina’s prosecutor’s office, 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 accused of drug trafficking.

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

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

Nores told the Daily Mail that he “did not abandon” Payne and clarified that he was not his manager.

As an overly passionate fan, I can’t help but delve deeper into the intricacies of the investigation surrounding Payne’s unfortunate demise. The prosecutor’s office left no stone unturned, meticulously examining every aspect to unravel the truth.

They gathered testimonies from numerous hotel staff, family members, friends, medical professionals, biochemists, and psychiatrists. Furthermore, they painstakingly analyzed over 800 hours of video footage from security cameras within the hotel and on public roads.

The investigation didn’t stop there. They conducted a forensic extraction of Payne’s cell phone contents, scrutinizing his calls, messages, chats on messaging apps, and social media platforms. Additionally, they obtained and scrutinized several gigabytes of data from other cell phones, such as the hotel reception and witnesses who willingly provided their phones to corroborate their statements.

Other pieces of evidence included a record of the guests and orders at the hotel bar/restaurant, which helped identify who visited Payne and what they consumed. Moreover, nine raids were requested at homes in Buenos Aires. This extensive investigation aimed to piece together the puzzle surrounding Payne’s life and death.

Yet, as stated in the November 7 update, further examination is required because the damaged personal netbook of the victim, along with other devices confiscated during the investigation, remain to be unlocked and analyzed.

Previously, Payne was vacationing with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, in Argentina. He had captured and shared moments of their trip before his untimely demise.

Snapchat posts from the singer revealed that they were enjoying each other’s company, eating meals, discussing his equestrian plans, and having a wonderful time in Argentina, as seen in screenshots obtained by NBC News. The last photo Payne shared on Snapchat on the day of his death was one of him and Cassidy in their swimsuits.

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

Cassidy shared in a video on October 14, as she was returning to the U.S., that she had been eager to leave. She explained her feelings by saying, “I adore South America, but I can’t stand being stationary for too long. Originally, we were only supposed to stay for about five days, but it ended up being two weeks, and I just felt the need to return home.”

Following Liam’s demise, Cassidy conveyed that she had been feeling utterly bewildered and that the past few days hadn’t seemed genuine.

In a post on October 18, Cassidy wrote, “My dear Liam, you are everything. I want you to know that I loved you wholeheartedly and without condition. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you, Liam.

Following Liam Payne’s demise, his fellow One Direction bandmates – Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan – publicly expressed their profound sorrow. On October 17th, they penned a joint message on Instagram, saying: “We are utterly crushed by the news of Liam’s passing. In due time, when everyone is ready, we will share more thoughts. For now, we will take some time to mourn and come to terms with the loss of our cherished brother.”

One Direction was created on The X Factor in 2010 and went on to achieve immense popularity before disbanding in 2015. Their shared memories with Payne will forever be precious, they wrote. The band members also mentioned that their thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans who adored him alongside them. They added that they would miss him dearly, signing off with “We love you Liam.”

Individual tributes were also released by each member. Niall Horan, who hosted a concert in Buenos Aires on October 2nd that Payne attended, wrote on Instagram: “The bond and friendship we shared doesn’t occur often in a lifetime. I feel incredibly fortunate to have known him. It’s heartbreaking to realize that the goodbye I said and the hug I gave him that evening would be our last.”

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

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

2025-02-12 01:19

Liam Payne’s Friend Breaks Silence Amid Homicide Charge Shocker

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