Five individuals have been formally charged in connection with the tragic death of Liam Payne, the former One Direction member, following an incident in Buenos Aires in October. An Argentine judge confirmed the charges, with two individuals being ordered into preventive prison.
The case revolves around Payne’s untimely demise after falling from a hotel balcony in the upscale Palermo neighborhood. Authorities revealed that the two individuals in preventive detention were involved in supplying drugs to Payne, with one being a hotel employee where Payne had been staying, and the other a waiter he met at a local restaurant.
These individuals are facing charges of drug trafficking and have been instructed to appear before the judge.
Three other individuals were charged with manslaughter in connection with the case, including a businessman who was with Payne in Argentina at the time, as well as two hotel managers. However, they were not placed under preventive detention.
The investigation unfolded after Payne’s body was discovered following his fatal fall from the third-floor balcony of the hotel. His autopsy report confirmed that the cause of death was multiple injuries and external bleeding. Toxicological tests revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his system at the time of his death.
The report also noted that the injuries were not self-inflicted and did not result from any physical altercation, ruling out foul play. Furthermore, it was stated that Payne did not demonstrate the usual reflex to protect himself in a fall, suggesting he may have been unconscious at the time. Argentine prosecutors have firmly dismissed the possibility of suicide.
Payne, who rose to fame as part of One Direction — one of the most successful boy bands in recent history — had embarked on a solo career after the band went on hiatus in 2016. The charges against those involved highlight a disturbing and tragic series of events leading up to the pop star’s death.
