5 people charged in connection with Liam Payne’s death

Five people have been charged in connection with former One Direction singer Liam Payne’s death after a fatal fall at an Argentina hotel in October.

According to a translation of a Dec. 30 press release from Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office, three people — two of whom are employees of CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires where Payne died on Oct. 16 — have been charged with manslaughter. The BBC identifies those individuals as hotel manager Gilda Martin, hotel receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Payne’s friend Roger Nores.

As his friend, the statement says Nores allegedly failed “to fulfill his duties of care, assistance and help” towards the singer after he “abandoned him” despite knowing of his “multiple addictions.” It further claims that Martin and Grassi allegedly failed to keep an intoxicated Payne safe by allowing him to return to his third-floor room, where he would later fall from his balcony. (An autopsy found that Payne, 31, had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of his death, and that “multiple traumas” and “internal and external hemorrhage” were the ultimate causes of death.)

Per the release, an additional hotel employee, and a waiter — whom the BBC reports are Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz, respectively — have been charged with supplying drugs. Pereyra is suspected of selling the singer cocaine on Oct. 15 and Oct. 16, while Paiz is suspected of selling the drug to him twice on Oct. 14.

If found guilty, Martin, Grassi, and Nores could face 1-5 years in prison. Pereyra and Paiz face a more severe sentence, with a possible 4-15 years in jail should they be found guilty.

Reps for Judge Laura Bruniard’s office have not yet responded to Entertainment Weekly’s request for comment.

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This update comes after authorities said in a Nov. 7 press release that three suspects had been charged, one suspect with abandonment of a person followed by death, and two others with supplying narcotics. The suspects were not named at that time.

After news of Payne’s death, his fans, former collaborators, and one-time bandmates shared their condolences and grief in numerous statements online.

“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” began the statement from fellow One Direction alums Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”

The statement continued, “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam. 

Payne is survived by his 7-year-old son Bear, whom he shares with ex Cheryl Cole.