Key points from the article:

• Charges against friend Rogelio Nores and two hotel staff in Liam Payne's death dropped by Argentine court.
• The court ruled Nores had no legal obligation to prevent Payne from obtaining alcohol and drugs.
• Two others remain in custody facing drug supply charges related to Payne.

In a significant ruling this week, an Argentine appeals court has cleared Liam Payne's friend, Rogelio "Roger" Nores, along with two hotel staff members from criminal negligence charges linked to the singer's tragic fall from a hotel balcony. The court determined that the trio bore no responsibility for Payne's ability to access substances like alcohol and drugs that contributed to his death.

The court’s decision came after Nores, who was accompanying Payne in Buenos Aires, expressed relief at the judgment, stating, "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," as reported by Salon.

The judges highlighted that while Nores was present in the area around the hotel, there was insufficient evidence to prove that he had a “duty of care” mandate that could have prevented the incident. They noted, “It cannot be ruled out that [Payne] would have managed to obtain the substances anyway, as is common among addicts,” as quoted from a South China Morning Post report.

Following the court's ruling, the two hotel employees, Gilda Martin and Esteban Grassi, were also cleared of any wrongdoing, with the judges stating that their actions did not constitute “unlawful, unruly, clumsy, reckless, imprudent or negligent conduct.” In total, five individuals were implicated in the case, of which only two still face prosecution for allegedly supplying narcotics to Payne before his death. Those remaining in custody could face severe penalties of four to 15 years in prison if convicted, as per information from Bangkok Post.

Liam Payne, once part of the famed boy band One Direction, tragically died at the age of 31 from injuries sustained in the fall on October 16, 2024. His untimely death invoked an outpouring of grief globally as fans mourned the loss of the beloved star, who had grappled with significant personal challenges.