5 Charged in Liam Payne Death Case: Investigation Update
Two months after the tragic death of British singer Liam Payne, an Argentine judge has confirmed charges against five individuals in connection with the incident. The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 16, temporarily headed by Marcelo Roma, revealed that two of the accused have been ordered to be placed under preventive prison for allegedly supplying drugs to the former One Direction member.
The 31-year-old Payne passed away on Oct. 16 as a result of a fall from the balcony of his third-floor hotel room in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo. The judicial officer confirmed that the incident occurred at the Casa Sur hotel in the Palermo district, located on Costa Rica Street, where an employee called emergency services for a guest who was under the influence of substances and had caused damage to the room.
Arrests and Charges
One of the individuals ordered into preventive prison was an employee of the hotel, while the other was a waiter whom Payne had met at a local restaurant. Both suspects are facing charges related to drug supply and are required to appear before the judge for further proceedings. Additionally, three others have been charged with manslaughter, including two hotel managers and a businessman who was in the company of Payne during his time in Argentina.
Extensive Investigation
A press release from Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office disclosed that numerous testimonies were collected from various sources, including hotel personnel, family members, friends, medical professionals, biochemists, and psychiatrists. Over 800 hours of video footage from hotel security cameras and public areas were reviewed, along with the examination of Payne’s cellphone records, calls, messages, and social media activity during his stay at the Casa Sur hotel between Oct. 13-16.
Toxicology Results and Autopsy Findings
Initial toxicology results indicated the presence of cocaine in Payne’s system at the time of his death. However, prosecutors have ruled out suicide as the cause. While final toxicology results are pending and expected to remain confidential for several weeks, a preliminary report hinted at evidence of cocaine exposure, though the exact amount in his bloodstream remains unclear.
An anonymous official clarified that the initial toxicology findings might not accurately reflect the quantity of cocaine circulating in Payne’s blood when he passed away. The preliminary autopsy report released in October attributed his death to polytrauma and internal and external hemorrhage. Payne, who shared a son named Bear with former partner Cheryl Cole, was a beloved figure in the music industry with a dedicated fan base.
