Manslaughter charges against Rogelio “Roger” Nores and two hotel staff members related to Liam Payne’s death in Buenos Aires have been dismissed by appeal court judges, overturning the December charges.
The One Direction singer died last October after falling from a balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Argentina’s capital. Following the dismissal, Nores told Rolling Stone: “Glad this is finally over. I’m happy I’m now going to be able to travel to the UK and say goodbye to my friend.”
His lawyer Rafael Cuneo Libarona welcomed the reversal, stating: “We have always maintained that Rogelio Nores was not responsible for Liam Payne’s death. He was only his friend and had no duty or legal obligation to ensure his safety.”
The dropped charges also apply to hotel security head Gilda Martin and chief receptionist Esteban Grassi, who made the emergency call before Payne’s death. All three had faced potential one-to-five-year prison terms, though suspended sentences were possible.
However, two other men – waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz and suspended hotel worker Ezequiel David Pereyra – remain in custody, facing drug supply charges that could result in 4-15 year sentences if convicted.
The original prosecution had focused partly on Nores’s alleged role as Payne’s manager, which he denied. Judge Laura Bruniard had initially accused him of “failing in his duty of care, assistance and help” towards the singer.
Nores previously stated: “I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened. There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could have never imagined something like this would happen… I wasn’t Liam’s manager. He was just my very dear friend.”
Prosecutors retain the right to appeal this latest decision, though their intentions remain unclear.
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