Five people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction star Liam Payne in Argentina.
Three people have been charged with negligent homicide and two have been charged with supplying drugs, the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
The 31-year-old pop star died after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on 16 October.
Negligent homicide carries a sentence of one to five years, while supplying drugs carries a sentence of up to 15 years.
In the court documents, those charged are referred to by their initials. RLN, described as a “representative” of Payne, was one of those charged with negligent homicide, alongside GAM, a hotel manager and ERG, a hotel reception manager.
A hotel employee, EDP, and waiter, BNP, have been charged with supplying drugs on two occasions.
All five have been summoned to appear in court.
The prosecutor’s office previously ruled out self-harm as a factor in the One Direction star’s death, and said he did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself from the fall, meaning it can be inferred he may have fallen “in a state of semi or total unconsciousness”.
The results of toxicology tests revealed that before his death, Payne had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his body.
According to the post-mortem examination, Payne died from “multiple” injuries and internal and external bleeding.
Argentine investigators found what appeared to be narcotics and alcohol strewn around broken objects and furniture in Payne’s hotel room, leading the public prosecution to surmise he had suffered a substance abuse-induced breakdown around the time of his fall.
