However, two men accused of supplying drugs to Payne will remain in custody until trial.
Liam Payne’s friend, Roger Nores, along with two hotel employees, has been acquitted of all charges related to the former One Direction singer’s tragic death last year.
Payne lost his life on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to the prosecutor’s office, the 31-year-old’s cause of death was multiple injuries, along with internal and external bleeding.
Following Payne’s death, five people were arrested and charged. Among them were Nores and hotel employees Gilda Martin and Esteban Grassi. Nores was accused of homicide by negligence, while Martin and Grassi faced manslaughter charges. However, as reported by Rolling Stone, all charges against them have been dropped.
Court Ruling: “They Had No Responsibility for Payne’s Death”
Nores, who had accompanied Payne to Argentina, stated that he had left the singer alone on the day of his death. He also maintained that he had never supplied Payne with drugs or alcohol and had previously contacted his family due to concerns about his health.
According to Rolling Stone, the Argentine Court of Appeals ruled that Nores, Martin, and Grassi bore no responsibility for Payne’s death. The court’s decision noted:
“It is possible that, if Nores had stayed with him the whole time, [Payne] would not have obtained drugs and alcohol in the quantities found in his system. However, it cannot be ruled out that, even with stricter supervision, he would have managed to obtain them, as is often the case with addicts.”
The ruling further stated: “Despite accusing Nores of not informing the victim’s family, they ignore the email he sent expressing his concerns and explaining that he could not take responsibility for Payne’s health.”
After his acquittal, Nores told Rolling Stone: “Finally, it’s over. I’m glad I can now travel to the UK and say goodbye to my friend.”
Two Drug Suspects Remain in Custody
Hotel employees Martin and Grassi were initially accused of carrying an unconscious Payne to his room just before his fatal fall. However, judges ruled that they had not acted with negligence, recklessness, or indifference, leading to the dismissal of charges against them.
Conversely, two other men, Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz, remain in custody awaiting trial. They are accused of supplying drugs to Payne, some of which were found in his system during toxicology testing.
In November, Paiz admitted to having met Payne twice before his death and using drugs with him. However, he denied supplying drugs to the singer or accepting money from him. If found guilty, Paiz and Pereyra could face prison sentences ranging from four to fifteen years. Additionally, Paiz is expected to pay a $4,900 fine.
Nores’ Legal Dispute with Payne’s Father
Last month, Nores filed a defamation lawsuit against Payne’s father, Geoff Payne. In his complaint, Nores alleged that Geoff Payne submitted an affidavit to Buenos Aires police, stating that Nores had “full responsibility” for Liam Payne’s well-being during his stay in Argentina.
Nores has denied this accusation, asserting that he never agreed to be responsible for Payne’s health and had no professional obligation to care for him. He also stated that, if he wins the lawsuit, he will donate the $10 million settlement to Payne’s son, Bear.
