Almost three months on from his tragic death, the family and loved ones of One Direction star Liam Payne have been given a glimmer of hope that justice may be served as five people have been charged in connection with his death
The family of Liam Payne, the former One Direction star who tragically died at 31, are hopeful that justice may be served. The singer’s loved ones spent their first Christmas without him, nearly three months after his untimely death.
Liam fell from the third floor of a hotel, and an autopsy revealed he died instantly due to “multiple traumatic injuries” leading to “internal and external hemorrhage.”
Five individuals have since been charged in connection with his death, including his friend Roger Nores, who is listed as the “victim’s representative” in new court documents filed in Argentina. Despite denying being Liam’s manager at the time of his death, Nores could face one to five years in prison if convicted.
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Prosecutors had sought a more serious charge against Nores, namely abandonment of a person followed by death and a drugs supply charge, which carries a sentence of between four and 15 years if convicted.
A family friend told The Sun: “It’s been a very difficult Christmas for them but they now just want justice for their son. Finally, after a horrific couple of months, there is a feeling like this could be possible,” reports the Mirror.
Argentine prosecutors, where the tragedy unfolded, have accused Mr Nores of being “criminally responsible” for Liam’s death, alleging he neglected his duty of care. They argue that he “abandoned” Payne, “knowing that he was incapable of caring for himself, knowing that the accused suffered from multiple previous addictions – to alcohol and cocaine – and having full knowledge of the state of intoxication, vulnerability and helplessness in which he found himself”.
Judge Laura Bruniard, head of the National Criminal and Correctional Court No 34, stated that Nores “is responsible for the crime of negligent homicide as the perpetrator given that he had assumed a position of guarantor in front of the family of the deceased”. Allegedly, footage shows US citizen Nores was at the hotel around 50 minutes before the singer’s death, with the judge stating he “should have consulted a doctor” and “should have done this without relying on what the hotel employees could do”.
Over at CasaSur Palermo Hotel, where Liam had been partying, staff members have come under fire by the authorities. Esteban Grassi, the chief receptionist, and security boss Gilda Martin are in hot water, facing manslaughter charges.
Braian Nahuel Paiz, 24, alongside Ezequiel David Pereyra, 21, are accused of dealing dodgy substances to Liam, with the law giving them 24 hours to appear back in court. The duo could be looking at a stretch of four to 15 years if convicted.
Judge Laura Bruniard laid it on thick, labelling Nores a “responsible for the crime of negligent homicide as the perpetrator given that he had assumed a position of guarantor in front of the family of the deceased”. It’s whispered there’s CCTV that’s picked up Nores lurking in the hotel around 50 mins before the tragedy struck Liam.
Judge Bruniard stated that on the day of his death, he “was unable to care for himself” and footage shows he was unconscious and being dragged “by three people”. “The way he was being handled shows a state of vulnerability,” the judge said, adding that Payne being taken to his room was a “risk to his life.”
“Payne’s consciousness was altered and there was a balcony in the room,” she added. “The proper thing to do was to leave him in a safe place and with company until a doctor arrived.”
She added that she does not think Martin and Grassi acted “maliciously”, but were “imprudent in allowing him to be taken to the room and taking him there respectively”. Concluding, the judge said Nores, Martin and Grassi “contributed, although not in a planned manner, to creating a risk that resulted in Payne’s death, whether by action or omission “possible”.
Bruniard has told the three men she charged with manslaughter there is “no co-authorship in the crime they’re accused of and the way they created a situation of risk which resulted in Liam Payne’s death, is different.”
Prosecutors said she decided not to remand them in prison, unlike the two men accused of selling Liam drugs, because they have well-established links to Argentina and the crime they are accused of does carry the possibility of a suspended prison sentence in the event of a conviction.
Talking about Nores, they said: “In any case with regards to R.L.N who is an American national, she maintained a ban on him leaving Argentina to guarantee his stay in the country.”
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