Argentina court drops charges against 3 accused in death of singer Liam Payne

Charges were dropped against singer’s representative in Argentina, the manager of the hotel and the head of the hotel’s reception

Reading Time:2 minutes

A makeshift memorial to former One Direction singer Liam Payne outside the hotel where he fell from a balcony to his death, in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 17. On Thursday, an Argentine court dropped charges against three people tied to his death. Photo: AP

Published: 5:37am, 21 Feb 2025Updated: 12:11pm, 21 Feb 2025

A court in Argentina dropped charges of criminal negligence against three of the five people indicted in connection with the death of Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer who fell from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last October, according to a ruling obtained by Associated Press on Thursday.

In its decision issued on Wednesday, the Argentine federal appeal court ordered the other two defendants in the case to remain in custody. They are facing prosecution on charges they supplied the famed British boy band star with narcotics.

The ruling drops charges against three key defendants: Rogelio Nores, an Argentine businessman with US citizenship who had accompanied Payne during his trip in Buenos Aires; Gilda Martin, the manager of the Casa Sur Palermo Hotel where Payne died on October 16; and Esteban Grassi, the hotel’s main receptionist.

The charge of “negligent homicide” carries a sentence of one to five years in prison in Argentina.

A toxicology report from tests taken after an autopsy revealed that Payne, 31, had alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his system when he fell from the balcony.

Prosecutors argued that Nores had failed to comply with his duties of care by leaving Payne alone while inebriated. The court sided with defence lawyers who contended that Nores had no legal, moral or social duty to care for Payne. He also was outside the hotel at the time of his friend’s death.