Court drops charges against associates following Liam Payne's death in Argentina

In Argentina, a court ruled that charges of criminal negligence against three individuals connected to the death of singer Liam Payne were to be dropped. This decision came after an appeal was filed regarding the accusations against Rogelio Nores, a friend of Payne’s, Gilda Martin, the hotel manager, and Esteban Grassi, the head receptionist of the Casa Sur Hotel where the incident occurred on October 16, 2022. Prior to his fall from a third-floor hotel balcony, Payne had consumed alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant, leading to his death being categorized as a 'polytrauma.' The court found that prosecutors failed to establish that the actions of Nores and the hotel staff were negligent when they decided to return Payne to his room after he was observed very intoxicated in the hotel lobby. Their claim that the trio should have prevented Payne from accessing the balcony did not hold, resulting in the dismissal of their charges. Meanwhile, two other suspects, Ezequiel David Pereyra and Braian Paiz, remain incarcerated and face separate charges involving the supply of narcotics to Payne. They may face prison sentences ranging from four to 15 years if convicted. The ruling has sparked a range of reactions, as it shifts the legal responsibility towards those accused of supplying drugs while raising questions about the circumstances surrounding Payne's death. Nores expressed relief at the ruling and looked forward to traveling to the UK to pay his respects to his late friend. This case continues to draw media attention, reflecting on the tragic loss of the former One Direction member who had built a significant global following.