After Liam Payne’s fatal fall: five defendants are on trial

Former “One Direction” star Liam Payne (1993-2024) died in October 2024 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. The singer is said to have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the fall. As reported, five people are said to have been charged in connection with the singer’s death. Two people are said to be already in custody.

Among the defendants is Payne’s friend, businessman Rogelio “Roger” Nores. He left the former “One Direction” star alone in the Hotel CasaSur Palermo about an hour before his fatal fall. Nores is charged with involuntary manslaughter. In addition, he is currently not allowed to leave the country.

The defendants also include a waiter at the Argentine hotel. Braian Paiz admitted to using drugs, including cocaine, with the singer. He is charged with selling narcotics for money. Drug trafficking charges are also said to have been brought against CasaSur employee Ezequiel Pereya.

The two hotel managers Gilda Martín and Esteban Grassi are accused of manslaughter. Both were already under investigation for involuntary manslaughter since they called 911 to request help for the mentally unstable singer. They also allegedly took Payne back to his room on the third floor. According to Infobae, all five defendants have been summoned to court.

Liam Payne became known worldwide through the British boy band “One Direction”, which was founded in 2010 as part of the seventh edition of the British talent show “The X Factor”. The band took a break in 2016, after which Payne launched a successful solo career. The singer leaves behind a seven-year-old son from a relationship with British singer Cheryl Cole (41), with whom he was with from 2016 to 2018.