An Argentine federal appeals court dropped criminal negligence charges against three individuals connected to the death of Liam Payne, the British pop star who plummeted from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony in October 2023. The ruling, issued Wednesday, maintains detention for two defendants accused of supplying narcotics to the former One Direction member prior to his tragic fall.
Those exonerated include hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Rogelio Nores, a business associate who accompanied Payne during his final hours. Prosecutors alleged Nores failed to prevent Payne from accessing his balcony while intoxicated. However, the court determined Nores had no legal obligation to supervise the singer, who had alcohol, cocaine, and antidepressants in his system during the incident.
Prosecutors failed to prove how taking Payne to his room constituted negligent conduct,stated the court regarding hotel staff actions.
A toxicology report confirmed Payne’s impaired state, but judges emphasized no evidence linked the cleared defendants directly to the fall. Meanwhile, Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz remain jailed for allegedly providing drugs to Payne hours before his death—a charge carrying 4–15 year sentences.
Key case details:
- Charges dismissed: Negligent homicide (1–5 year penalty)
- Cleared parties: Hotel staff and Payne’s associate
- Ongoing case: Narcotics distribution to the singer
Payne’s death sparked global mourning, underscoring One Direction’s lasting cultural impact. As legal proceedings continue, questions linger about accountability in celebrity fatalities involving substance use.
