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Credit: Rach/vagueonthehow, FlickrOn October 16, 2024, the world was shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden death of One Direction singer, Liam Payne. According to the medical report, the singer died from “internal and external hemorrhage” caused by “multiple traumas” after he fell from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Argentina.
From the time news of Payne’s death broke, it was reported that he was acting erratically in the hours before his death. He reported ingested cocaine and a cocktail of other drugs and had been drinking. Some reports even indicated that the 31-year-old had not fallen from the balcony but had, in fact, jumped from his hotel room.
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Immediately following Mr. Payne’s shocking death, Argentinian police launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his passing. Just about three weeks later, it was announced that multiple people had been arrested in connection with his death.
At the time, one hotel maintenance worker, a drug dealer, and an Argentinian businessman were facing charges. The drug dealer and maintenance worker were charged with supplying Payne with narcotics, and the businessman was charged with “abandonment of a person following death.”
Now, nearly three months later, additional people have been arrested, and a judge has determined the charges will stand.
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According to a report from Entertainment Weekly, a total of five people have been charged with crimes ranging from manslaughter to supplying drugs.
According to a translation of a Dec. 30 press release from Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office, three people — two of whom are employees of CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires where Payne died on Oct. 16 — have been charged with manslaughter. The BBC identifies those individuals as hotel manager Gilda Martin, hotel receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Payne’s friend Roger Nores.
Ms. Martin and Mr. Grassi are being accused of failing to keep Mr. Payne safe after they allowed him to return to his hotel room, even though they knew he was intoxicated.
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Mr. Nores was the friend who was allegedly with Mr. Payne at the time of his death and is being charged with failure “to fulfill his duties of care, assistance and help” towards the singer after he “abandoned him” despite knowing of his “multiple addictions.”
In addition to Ms. Martin, Mr. Grassi, and Mr. Nores, Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz have been charged with supplying Mr. Payne with the drugs that ultimately contributed to his death. Mr. Pereyra was an employee at the hotel and Mr. Paiz was a waiter.
Pereyra is suspected of selling the singer cocaine on Oct. 15 and Oct. 16, while Paiz is suspected of selling the drug to him twice on Oct. 14.
If found guilty, Ms. Martin, Mr. Grassi, and Mr. Nores could face between one and five years in prison. Mr. Pereyra and Mr. Paiz are facing more serious charges and could be sentenced to between four and fifteen years in jail.
Liam Payne is survived by his seven-year-old son, Bear Grey Cole, who he shared with former X-Factor judge Cheryl Cole.
Do you think all of the people responsible for Mr. Payne’s death should be sentenced to jail? Or should only the people who sold him the drugs be imprisoned? Share your thoughts in the comments.