Liam Payne’s Friend Among 5 Accused in Singer’s Death: Report

A number of people are said to have been charged in connection with Liam Paynedeath at age 31.

According to s local news outlet in Argentina, five charges have been made. Payne’s friend Roger Nores among those facing charges of manslaughter, along with Esteban Grassireceptionist at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, and head of hotel security Gilda Martin.

Brian Paizserver, and CasaSur employee Ezequiel Pereyra accused of he allegedly supplied drugs to Payne before his death, according to the report. All five accused were summoned to appear in court.

News broke in November that three charges were made in connection with Payne’s death. The prosecutor’s office announced at the time that the three individuals were charged with leaving resulting in death and with supplying and facilitating narcotics. Depositions and arrests were requested in a 180-page indictment, which detailed efforts to “recreate the days Payne spent” at Palermo’s CasaSur Hotel.

Nine raids were carried out in the City of Buenos Aires, and investigators collected testimonies from hotel staff, family, friends and medical professionals. More than 800 hours of footage from security cameras and other public cameras were reviewed during the investigation. Prosecutors found “clear evidence of at least four instances of narcotics supply by third parties and other facilitation of addictive consumption by Payne’s immediate circle during his stay at the hotel between October 13 and 16.”

Payne was found dead on October 16 after falling from a third floor hotel balcony. A preliminary autopsy identified “multiple trauma” as the the cause of Payne’s deathincluding hemorrhages in his chest, skull and abdomen, and multiple drugs were found in his system. The incident was not ruled a suicide.

Nores previously spoke about his alleged involvement in Payne’s death, tells the Daily Mail in November that he had “never abandoned” the former One Direction singer. “There were over 15 people in the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could never have imagined that something like this would happen. … I am very heartbroken by this tragedy, and I have been missing my friend every day,” he claimed.

Earlier this month, Nores reportedly filed a complaint alleging that Palermo’s CasaSur Hotel did not properly protect Payne during his stay. “There was a world-famous person waiting with obvious signs of going through a drug-induced crisis at that very moment, and they didn’t even make an effort there to make up for their legal waiver of a 24-hour doctor,” read documents obtained by TMZ.

Nores claimed that the hotel manager was aware that Payne was drunk and argued that a doctor should have been present from the time the singer entered. He further accused the staff of doing nothing to help Payne before his fatal fall.

In a subsequent court filing obtained by Rolling StoneNores testified about Payne’s history with drug use. “I was a friend who loved him very much, who helped him selflessly in everything I could, who spent my own money to help him, and even then it was not enough,” he claimed. “I do not consider that I deserve the accusation that is being leveled at me.”

Nores claimed Payne was previously “close to death” following an incident in September 2023 that left him hospitalized in Milan. He was allegedly hospitalized twice more in London that year.

“Professionals had to resort to resuscitation maneuvers to save his life, without his family or friends being able to do anything to avoid these situations or help him,” claimed Nores.

Payne was laid to rest in England a month after his death. His parents, sisters and son Bear, whom he shares with ex Cheryl Cole.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance misuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Hotline. at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).