Manslaughter charges against Liam Payne’s friend and two hotel staff members have been dropped.
Rogelio “Roger” Nores and the two employees from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires were charged back in December, two months after the singer’s tragic death. Recently, an appeal court ruled that there was no basis for the charges against them.
However, two other men are still in custody, facing accusations of supplying drugs to Payne before his death. Their trial is still pending.
Payne died last October after a fall from a hotel balcony. Following the news that the charges against Nores were dropped, he expressed relief. He told Rolling Stone he looks forward to traveling to the UK to say goodbye to his friend.
Nores’ attorney, Rafael Cuneo Libarona, celebrated the court’s decision. He stated that Nores had no legal duty to ensure Payne’s safety. “He was just a friend,” Libarona emphasized, defending his client against previous claims that Nores had failed in his responsibilities.
Alongside Nores, the court also dropped charges against Gilda Martin, the hotel’s head of security, and Esteban Grassi, the chief receptionist who made the emergency call when Payne fell.
If convicted, the three men could have faced prison sentences ranging from one to five years, but were told that suspended sentences were a possibility. Prosecutors have not yet decided if they will appeal the court’s ruling.
The two men still facing charges, Braian Nahuel Paiz and Ezequiel David Pereyra, are accused of selling drugs to Payne. If found guilty, they could face much longer prison sentences, ranging from four to 15 years.
Nores has consistently denied holding any management role for Payne, which was a key reason for the initial prosecution. He has shared that he visited Payne multiple times on the day of his death and could never have foreseen the tragedy that unfolded.
The court’s ruling followed a hearing at Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Court, where the appeal judges concluded their decision. This case has drawn significant public interest, especially given Payne’s fame as a member of One Direction.
Check out this related article: Unpacking ‘Zero Day’: Robert De Niro’s Gripping Political Thriller on Netflix Aims to Revitalize America
Source link