Three people have been charged in connection with the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne as Argentine authorities ruled out third party involvement in his fall. The British singer tragically died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month at the age of 31.
The public prosecutor’s office in Argentina revealed that three individuals have been charged. One person who was accompanying Payne has been accused of “abandonment of a person followed by death,” which could lead to a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Furthermore, an employee at the hotel where Payne was residing and a third individual have also been charged with supplying drugs.
Authorities confirmed that they have ruled out both third party involvement and “self-harm” in Payne’s death, as per a forensic psychiatric report. The statement highlighted that Payne may not have been fully conscious or could have been in a state of decreased consciousness during the fall based on medical information and his consumption at the time.
A comprehensive analysis involving over 800 hours of security camera footage and numerous testimonies has been conducted by the prosecutor’s office. Additionally, nine raids have been authorised on properties in Buenos Aires, with some of Payne’s devices still undergoing analysis.
The musician’s body has been entrusted to his father, Geoff Payne, after elaborate investigative measures were taken to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his death. Payne succumbed to multiple injuries and internal and external bleeding caused by the fall, according to a post-mortem examination. His body was discovered in the hotel’s internal courtyard, where substances and damaged objects were found in his room following his death.
Global fans held vigils and music stars paid homage to Payne following his untimely passing on October 16. In a collective statement, his former bandmates expressed being “completely devastated” and conveyed their profound loss. Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, shared her heartbreak on social media, expressing the indescribable pain she felt.
Payne rose to fame alongside his One Direction bandmates after being formed by Simon Cowell on The X Factor in 2010. Cowell expressed deep sorrow upon learning of Payne’s demise, reminiscing on their journey together. Payne had previously disclosed his struggles with alcoholism during his time with One Direction, reflecting on his lowest points.
In conclusion, as the investigation into Liam Payne’s death progresses, his memory lives on through the legacy he leaves behind in the music industry and the hearts of his fans worldwide.