LIAM Payne’s grieving family hope “justice will finally be served” after five people were charged yesterday over his death.
A judge in Argentina said two hotel staff sold the One Direction star cocaine, while a friend, waiter and manager showed neglect, leaving him alone and vulnerable.
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Liam Payne’s grieving family hope “justice will finally be served” after five people were charged over his deathCredit: Getty
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The 31-year-old One Direction star fell 30ft to his death from his hotel balcony in ArgentinaCredit: Reuters
Liam, 31, died in Buenos Aires in October after falling from a 30ft balcony.
Judge Laura Bruniard ruled that five people played a role in the star’s death – and added yesterday: “What happened was predictable.”
She blamed the two hotel workers who sold him cocaine, two others who helped “dragged” him to his room before leaving him alone and vulnerable, and friend Rogelio “Roger” Nores, who had left 50 minutes earlier — “leaving him to his fate”.
All five were charged yesterday after Ms Bruniard said in a statement that the tragedy was “foreseeable”.
Blasting staff at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires, she added: “They did not act maliciously in the singer’s death, but they were reckless in allowing his transfer to his room by taking him there.
“They created a legally unacceptable risk and the result was the death of Liam Payne.”
Last night, a friend of 31-year-old Liam’s family told The Sun: “It’s been a very difficult Christmas for them but now they just want justice for their son.
“Finally, after a terrible few months, there’s a sense that this might be possible.”
Business friend Nores, 35, was with Liam at the hotel but CCTV allegedly shows him leaving in the early hours of October 16.
Prosecutors claim this shows Nores “failed in his duty of care, aid and assistance” to Liam – “knowing he could not take care of himself”.
Five people charged in Liam Payne’s death, including 1D star Roger Nores’ friend and hotel staff
The judge’s report, which also relied on WhatsApp messages and witness statements, said the hotel’s chief receptionist Esteban Grassi and head of security Gilda Martin were among three staff who “dragged” the singer to his room at 4:54 p.m.
Ms Bruniard said that within minutes Liam wanted to climb over the balcony. . . he fell into the abyss and died”.
She added: “It was proper to leave him in a safe place with company until the doctor arrived.”
A toxicology report found traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescribed anti-depressant in Liam’s blood.
The cause of the singer’s death was stated as “multiple injuries” and “internal and external bleeding”.
Nores, an American citizen, was last night banned from leaving Argentina and £40,000 worth of assets seized.
He previously said of Liam’s final day: “He was in a good mood.
“He talked to ten or 15 Americans who were here for the wedding.
“He was talking to them and joking.”
Nores, Grassi and Martin were charged with manslaughter – the equivalent of manslaughter in Argentina.
Hotel worker Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz were charged with drug supply.
Pereyra is accused of selling cocaine to Liam on October 15 and 16, while Paiz allegedly delivered the drugs to him twice on October 14.
Paiz previously admitted to taking drugs with Liam, but insisted he was not a dealer.
His lawyer argued that Paiz was the victim of a “witch hunt” and called the judge’s ruling “absolutely arbitrary, illegitimate and completely inconsistent with the case file.”
All five defendants can appeal the charges, although such convictions are rarely overturned, and they are likely to face them next year.
Liam was in the South American country with girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25.
She returned to the US three days before Liam’s death.
It is claimed that he then started drinking and using drugs and was involved in a series of fights.
In the days after the horror, Liam’s devastated father Geoff, 66, visited the hotel.
He saw flowers and gifts left by fans and remained in the country until he was able to repatriate his son’s body last month.
The Sun previously told how the Nores were not welcome at Liam’s funeral in Amersham, Bucks, last month.
A source said at the time: “It’s true that he and Liam had a relationship, but he was never popular with Liam’s wider circle.
“There is a difference in the story, Roger [Nores] he would say he pulled out of working with Liam – others would say he was pushed.
“Many people didn’t even know Liam and Roger had reconnected until his fateful trip to Argentina last month.”
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Liam with son Bear Credit: Instagram
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Rogelio Nores, left, denied leaving former One Direction star Liam before his death
In addition to the upcoming trials in Argentina, Liam’s family faces a number of difficult decisions due to a number of unfinished projects.
Teardrops, the lead single from his second album, was released in March and re-entered the charts after his death.
A source said: “There’s more than an album’s worth of music ready to go that Liam was really proud of that now belongs to Universal Music.
“The label bosses want to do something with it as a tribute to his musical legacy, but there are no meetings at the moment.
“Liam’s family know they will have to sit down and agree what they want to do with his record label, but despite online chatter no date has been set.
“To be honest, it’s just been week by week for the last few months.
“That will happen in due course.”
The Sun revealed last week that Liam’s family are also due to meet with Netflix executives to discuss airing his latest project, Building The Band.
Filmed in Manchester in the summer, the talent show aims to form “the next big music act” from 50 hopefuls.
Former X Factor star Liam was mentored alongside ex-Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger, 46, and Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland, 43.
Meanwhile, Liam’s will is currently in the process of being executed with seven-year-old Bear – his son with ex-girlfriend Cheryl Tweedy, 41 – believed to be the main beneficiary.
Since their split in July 2018, the youngster has been living with the Girls Aloud star in Buckinghamshire.
During Liam’s time in One Direction — alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan — the band sold 70 million records.
After the group’s shocking split in August 2015, he continued to forge a solo career.
Liam devoted a lot of time to helping children and young adults, including those who needed life-saving surgeries, some with cancer, and one who was a victim of a school shooting.
During his career he has also partnered with organizations such as Unicef and the anti-poverty charity Trussell in his hometown of Wolverhampton.
In honor of his legacy, mourners at Liam’s funeral on November 20 were asked to donate to build a new cancer center at London’s Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.
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Liam with waiter Paiz, accused of drugs
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Liam and his partner Kate Cassidy, who also agreed to speak to the policeCredit: Getty
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Karen and Geoff Payne at Liam’s funeral Credit: Reuters
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A pop singer fell to his death from a hotel balcony in ArgentinaCredit: Reuters
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