An Argentine judge has ruled that the manager of former One Direction singer Liam Payne, along with employees of the hotel where he was staying, failed to provide adequate care for the popstar in the moments leading up to his tragic death. The judge has allowed charges of manslaughter to proceed against them, as confirmed by a statement from the prosecutor’s office on Monday.
Liam Payne tragically fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October. The manager of Payne, as well as the hotel manager and head of reception, now face charges of manslaughter in connection to the untimely passing of the former pop superstar. If convicted, they could potentially face up to five years in prison.
Additionally, a hotel employee and a local waiter stand accused of allegedly providing Payne with cocaine during his stay at the hotel. These individuals could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. The judge’s decision on Friday ordered them to be detained pending trial.
The judge emphasized that the actions taken by the defendants exposed Payne’s life to risk, particularly by allowing him to be in a vulnerable state. According to the judge’s decision, Payne’s autopsy revealed the presence of “large quantities” of cocaine and alcohol in his system at the time of his death.
It was reported that Payne had purportedly obtained cocaine from the hotel employee and waiter on at least four occasions over a three-day period. Surveillance footage from the Casa Sur hotel in the upscale Palermo neighborhood captured Payne being carried unconscious to his room by three individuals just moments before his tragic fall on October 16.
Notably, the hotel receptionist led the group assisting Payne and was then observed with the hotel manager in the hallway outside the singer’s room prior to the incident. The judge remarked that Payne, whose consciousness was impaired, had attempted to exit his room through the balcony and tragically fell due to his compromised state.
The manager of Payne, identified only by the initials “RLN,” departed from the hotel less than an hour before the fatal fall. The judge criticized this decision, asserting that the manager should have taken more responsibility for Payne’s well-being and not entrusted it solely to hotel staff.
As a result of the judge’s ruling, the manager, who holds U.S. citizenship, has been prohibited from leaving Argentina until further legal proceedings unfold.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Liam Payne’s death have raised critical questions about the responsibilities of those tasked with caring for individuals in vulnerable situations. The legal proceedings will seek to determine accountability for the events leading up to the loss of the beloved popstar.
