Three individuals have been officially charged in relation to the tragic death of beloved One Direction member Liam Payne, as confirmed by authorities in Argentina.
The singer passed away on October 16th after a fatal fall from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
According to the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office, one person who was with Payne at the time has been charged with negligence resulting in death and the distribution of drugs.
Additionally, a hotel staff member and a third individual have also been charged with drug distribution. The identities of those arrested have not been disclosed.
Payne, aged 31 and a father, rose to fame as a member of the popular boyband One Direction. He was a familiar face in the music industry after gaining prominence on the reality show The X Factor.
Following the singer’s passing, investigations into Payne’s activities during his final days at the CasaSur hotel have been ongoing.
Police discovered substances in his hotel room and reported that hotel staff had made distress calls regarding a guest who had consumed excessive drugs and alcohol, leading to destructive behavior.
Toxicology tests conducted after Payne’s death showed the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and an antidepressant in his system.
The subsequent post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was attributed to severe trauma and internal and external bleeding from the balcony fall. Medical reports indicated that Payne may have been in a state of partial or complete unconsciousness at the time of the incident.
Authorities have also conducted multiple raids at residences in Buenos Aires and seized the singer’s broken laptop and other electronic devices for further investigation.
Furthermore, over 800 hours of security camera footage and numerous witness testimonies have been reviewed by the prosecutor’s office as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Following the completion of formalities, Payne’s body has been released to his family for repatriation to the UK.
In the wake of Payne’s untimely passing, tributes poured in from his former partner Cheryl, bandmates from One Direction, and music industry figures like Simon Cowell.
The remaining members of One Direction expressed their devastation over the loss of their friend and bandmate, emphasizing the lasting impact of their shared memories with Payne.
