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Three Individuals Charged in Connection with Liam Payne's Death

08:50

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Three people have been formally charged in relation to the tragic death of former One Direction member Liam Payne, according to authorities in Argentina.

Payne, aged 31, passed away on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires. The Argentine National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office has charged one individual accompanying Payne with "the abandonment of a person followed by death." A hotel worker and another individual face charges for supplying drugs. The identities of the arrested individuals have not been disclosed.

Payne, known for his rise to fame on *The X Factor* and his success with One Direction, was a beloved figure in pop music and a father to one child. Authorities have been investigating the final days of his life at the CasaSur hotel. After his death, police discovered drugs, as well as damaged furniture and objects in his hotel room. Hotel staff had called emergency services twice, reporting that Payne had consumed excessive amounts of alcohol and drugs and was destroying the room.

Toxicology reports revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in Payne's system. An autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was "multiple trauma" and "internal and external hemorrhage" resulting from the fall. Medical reports suggest Payne may have been unconscious or semi-conscious at the time of the fall, ruling out the possibility of a deliberate action on his part. Authorities emphasized that Payne was unaware of his actions during the incident.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities conducting multiple raids across Buenos Aires. They are also examining seized devices, including a broken laptop, and have reviewed over 800 hours of hotel and public security footage, alongside numerous testimonies from hotel staff, friends, family, and medical professionals.

Payne's body was released to his family on Wednesday to be returned to the UK. Following his passing, tributes poured in from his former partner Cheryl, his One Direction bandmates, and music industry figures like Simon Cowell. The surviving members of One Direction—Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Harry Styles—expressed their devastation, stating they would miss Payne "terribly" and would forever cherish the memories shared with him. Fans around the world also gathered at memorial events to honor the late singer.