Three Charged in Connection with Liam Payne's Death in Argentina for Supplying Narcotics and Neglect

 

Three individuals face charges in Argentina in connection with the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne, accused of supplying narcotics and failing to prevent harm. Prosecutors announced that Payne, who tragically fell from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16, had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of his death.

Witnesses at the upscale Casa Sur hotel reported hearing loud banging, doors slamming, and a scream prior to the incident. Hotel staff had previously alerted emergency services, describing Payne as “overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol” and “destroying” his room. His body was discovered in the hotel’s internal courtyard that afternoon, and police confirmed that he had sustained severe injuries to the base of his skull. Forensic officials later attributed his death to “multiple traumas” and extensive internal and external bleeding from the fall.

The three individuals charged include one person reportedly seen visiting Payne regularly during his two-week stay. This person faces charges of "abandonment of a person leading to death," which could result in a five to 15-year prison sentence, along with charges of narcotics facilitation. A hotel employee has been accused of supplying cocaine to Payne on two occasions, while a third person faces a similar charge for providing drugs on October 14.

Investigations by local authorities have been extensive, involving multiple witness statements, raids on residences across Buenos Aires, and the analysis of over 800 hours of security footage. Prosecutors ruled out suicide in Payne’s case, noting that his apparent lack of self-defense during the fall and his impaired state suggested he was likely not fully conscious at the time. They also excluded any "physical intervention by a third party."

Payne, originally from Wolverhampton, England, rose to international fame with One Direction after competing on The X Factor. Since the band’s hiatus in 2016, Payne had openly shared his mental health struggles, including his past use of alcohol and mood stabilizers to cope with the pressures of fame.

Following Payne’s death, his father, Geoff Payne, traveled to Buenos Aires to honor his son’s memory and meet with grieving fans. Payne’s body has since been repatriated to the UK.