Argentine prosecutors charge 3 people linked to the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne

You May Be Interested In:Woman accusing Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of sexual assault acknowledges inconsistencies


BUENOS AIRES — Three people have been charged in connection with the death of Liam Payne, a former member of musical group One Direction who died after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires last month, Argentine prosecutors said Thursday.

Prosecutor Andrés Madrea charged the three suspects, whose identities were not revealed, with ​​the crimes of “abandonment of a person followed by death” and “supplying and facilitating the use of narcotics,” the prosecutor’s office said. Madrea also requested their arrest to judge Laura Bruniard, who ruled the three cannot leave the country.

Payne fell from his room’s balcony on the third floor of his hotel in the upscale neighborhood of Palermo, in the Argentine capital. His autopsy said he died from multiple injuries and external bleeding.

Prosecutors also said that Payne’s toxicological exams showed that his body had “traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescribed antidepressant” in the moments before his death.

Investigators said hours after Payne’s death that he was by himself when he fell. The prosecutors’ office said one of the people charged was often with the singer during his time in Buenos Aires. The second is a hotel staffer who allegedly gave Payne cocaine during his stay between Oct. 13 and 16. And the third is a drug dealer.

The charges bear some resemblance to the U.S. cases stemming from the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perr y a year ago. The actor’s personal assistant and a longtime friend are among those charged with helping supply him with ketamine in the final months of his life, leading up to his overdose on the anesthetic.

Three young men were similarly charged in the opioid-overdose death of rapper Mac Miller in 2018.

One Direction was among the most successful boy bands of recent times. It announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016 and Payne — like his former bandmates Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson — pursued a solo career.

The singer had posted on his Snapchat account that he traveled to Argentina to attend Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires on Oct. 2. He shared videos of himself dancing with his girlfriend, American influencer Kate Cassidy, and singing along in the stands. Cassidy had left Argentina after the show, but Payne stayed behind.

____

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

share Paylaş facebook pinterest whatsapp x print

Similar Content

Alex Jones keeps Infowars for now after judge rejects The Onion's winning auction bid
Alex Jones keeps Infowars for now after judge rejects The Onion’s winning auction bid
Milan's Brera boosts its cultural cachet with an overdue modern art wing and Leonardo's Last Supper
Milan’s Brera boosts its cultural cachet with an overdue modern art wing and Leonardo’s Last Supper
Four things to know from Kamala Harris' latest podcast interviews
Four things to know from Kamala Harris’ latest podcast interviews
Marrakech Film Festival bestows Palestinian film 'Happy Holidays' with top award
Marrakech Film Festival bestows Palestinian film ‘Happy Holidays’ with top award
Passage: In memoriam
Passage: In memoriam
From Jelly Roll to TWICE, top acts hit 'Amazon Music Live' to spotlight their upcoming projects
From Jelly Roll to TWICE, top acts hit ‘Amazon Music Live’ to spotlight their upcoming projects
Around the Globe | © 2024 | News