BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — An Argentine federal appeals court has dropped charges of criminal negligence against three of the five individuals indicted in connection with the death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne, who fell from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last October.
In a ruling issued Wednesday, February 20, 2025, the court ordered that the remaining two defendants remain in custody as they face charges of supplying Payne with narcotics in the days leading up to his death.
Negligence Charges Dismissed
The court cleared businessman Rogelio Nores, hotel manager Gilda Martin, and receptionist Esteban Grassi of negligent homicide, a charge that carries a prison sentence of one to five years in Argentina.
Payne, 31, was found to have alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of his fatal fall on October 16, according to toxicology reports from his autopsy.
Prosecutors had argued that Nores, a U.S. citizen and close acquaintance of Payne, failed in his duty of care by leaving the singer alone while intoxicated.
However, the court ruled that Nores had no legal, moral, or social obligation to supervise Payne, especially as he was outside the hotel at the time of the incident.
Similarly, Martin and Grassi, who were on duty at the Casa Sur Palermo hotel on the night of Payne’s death, had reportedly assisted him to his room after noticing his severe intoxication.
Prosecutors claimed they should have prevented him from accessing his hotel room balcony until he was in a stable condition.
However, the court dismissed this argument, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove how escorting Payne to his room “constituted unlawful, unruly, clumsy, reckless, imprudent, or negligent conduct.”
Two Defendants Remain in Custody
While three of the accused have been cleared, two others — Ezequiel David Pereyra, a former employee at Casa Sur Palermo, and Braian Paiz, a waiter who had served Payne at an upscale Buenos Aires restaurant — remain detained.
They are accused of supplying Payne with narcotics in the hours leading up to his death.
Both men face charges related to drug distribution, which carry a prison sentence of four to fifteen years under Argentine law.
The court justified their continued detention as “preventative,” citing the severity of the charges against them.
Global Mourning for a Pop Icon
Payne’s sudden death last year sent shockwaves across the music industry, with fans around the world grieving the loss of the British pop star.
As a member of One Direction, one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, Payne had gained international fame before launching a solo career.
Despite the legal developments in Argentina, questions remain over the circumstances leading up to his death.
The case has reignited discussions on celebrity substance abuse and accountability, particularly in the hospitality industry.
With Pereyra and Paiz still facing trial, the case is far from over, but Wednesday’s ruling marks a significant step in the legal process following the tragic loss of one of pop music’s most recognizable figures.
