Argentinian officials have charged three people in connection to sudden death of ex-One Direction member Liam Payne.
According to a press release from the Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s office, one of the three people charged is a person who accompanied Payne “on a daily basis” during the musician’s trip to Buenos Aires. The second accused is a hotel worker at Casa Sur Hotel in the city where Payne had been staying. The third is an alleged “drug supplier.”
The 31-year-old British pop star was found dead on Oct. 16 after falling from a third floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last month.
Payne had reportedly attended former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert in Argentina just days before his death.
According to the Associated Press, an initial police statement said Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.” Police rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call just after 5 p.m. local time warning of an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” the statement added.
The preliminary autopsy named the cause of death as “multiple traumas” and “internal and external bleeding.”
Days later, a toxicology report found that Payne had multiple substances in his bloodstream when he died, including cocaine, benzodiazepine, crack and “pink cocaine,” a cocktail of multiple recreational drugs.
Payne’s unexpected death sent shock waves through the music world, and among a generation of fans who grew up with One Direction.
Days after his death, Payne’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson released a joint statement on Instagram:
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
With files from Associated Press
