Charges were confirmed against five people in One Direction singer Liam Payne’s death in Argentina, authorities announced Monday.
Four hotel workers and Payne’s friend Roger Nores were charged in Payne’s Oct. 16 death at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires.
Ezequiel Pereyra, a hotel employee, and Braian Paiz, a waiter at the establishment, were charged with providing Payne with the drugs that left him unconscious and a danger to himself, the BBC reported. Both men were ordered to turn themselves in for pre-trial detention.
Nores, hotel manager Gilda Martin and receptionist Esteban Grassi were all charged with negligent homicide. They were not required to report for pre-trial detention and face one to five years in prison if convicted.
On Friday, prosecutors presented a formal description of the events that led to Payne’s death. Under the Argentine legal system, the judge then decided whether criminal charges were warranted.
Payne bought drugs from Pereyra and Paiz on Oct. 14, 15 and 16 and was attempting to acquire more, according to investigators. On the day of his death, he was clearly a danger to himself but Martin and Grassi insisted on taking him back to his hotel room, even though the room had a balcony, which prosecutors described as a “serious threat” to Payne.
Meanwhile, Nores was accused of abandoning Payne to his own devices despite knowing he was intoxicated and possibly unresponsive due to the cocktail of drugs in his system.
Authorities have ruled out the idea that Payne jumped from the balcony or was pushed. They instead believe that he was possibly unconscious and had no comprehension or control of his actions when he fell over the side. Medical reports indicated that he did not even reflexively attempt to break his fall, according to authorities.
With News Wire Services
