Bringing the current total of defendants to five, two more people have been charged in connection with the death of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne.
Containing damning new allegations about the event that led up to the pop star’s tragic October 16 fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, prosecutors in Argentina have provided a lengthy update on their investigation into late musician’s death.
According to filed documents, Payne was so inebriated and drug-affected in the hours prior to his passing that he was unconscious and was unable to walk on his own.
In his ruling, the local judge declared Payne’s friend Roger Nores be “held criminally responsible for the death”, because he “abandoned” the singer, “having full knowledge of the state of intoxication, vulnerability and helplessness in which he found himself”. As a result, Nores is one of the people who’ve been charged with manslaughter.
Gilda Martin, the hotel’s manager, and receptionist, Esteban Grassi, who prosecutors allege were in the lobby when Liam returned to his room on the day of his death have also been charged. The judge claimed both employees saw Payne “could not stand due to the consumption of various substances”.
Prosecutors have also charged Ezequiel Pereyra, another hotel employee, and Braian Paiz, a waiter, with drug supply offenses.
Pereyra is accused of selling cocaine to Payne on October 15 and 16, while Paiz is accused of doing the same on two occasions during October 14.
Because the judge has stated that all five people failed to protect the pop star in his final moments, the matter will now proceed to Argentina’s court system.
At press time, none of the five people accused have thus far have entered a plea.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Ashley Newby