The investigation into Liam Payne’s death has resulted in five individuals being charged in connection to the singer’s tragic fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 16. According to a press release from the Public Prosecutor’s Office on December 30, Judge Laura Bruniard of the National Criminal and Correctional Court No. 34 found that each of the accused had contributed to creating a risk that ultimately led to Payne’s demise.
Among the defendants are a hotel employee and a waiter from Casa Sur Palermo, who have been accused of providing cocaine to Liam and have been placed in custody. They face potential sentences ranging from four to 15 years in prison. The hotel’s manager, a receptionist, and Liam’s representative have also been charged with negligent homicide. In the statement, the five individuals were referred to by their initials, although the BBC has published their full names.
The trio facing negligent homicide charges could be sentenced to between one to five years in prison for their actions, which were deemed to have caused Payne’s death through imprudence, negligence, lack of skill, or failure to comply with regulations and duties.
Judge Bruniard highlighted evidence, including a photograph that matched footage from a hotel lobby camera, showing Liam unconscious and being moved by three individuals at 4:54 p.m. The judge emphasized the vulnerability of Payne’s state and criticized the decision to take him to room 310, where there was a balcony, as it posed a significant risk to his life.
The judge noted that while the accused individuals may not have intended for Payne to die, their actions created a situation where his death became a foreseeable outcome. The representative, in particular, was criticized for not seeking medical help promptly based on the family’s concerns. Liam had been in Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, and was staying at Casa Sur Palermo after she returned home to Miami a few days before his death.
A hotel employee had called 911 before the incident, reporting that Liam had consumed excessive drugs and alcohol and was behaving erratically. The urgency of the situation was stressed, with fears that the guest might harm himself due to the presence of a balcony in his room.
