Three Charged in Connection with Liam Payne's Death

Facts

• Argentine prosecutors have charged three individuals in connection with the death of Liam Payne, a former singer of musical group One Direction who died on Oct. 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires.^[1][2]
• A person who accompanied Payne during his stay has been charged with 'the abandonment of a person followed by death,' while a hotel employee and a suspected drug dealer have been charged with supplying drugs.^[3][2]
• Toxicology reports revealed Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system, with prosecutors stating he was likely in a state of semi or total unconsciousness when he fell.^[4][2]
• As part of their extensive investigation, investigators reviewed over 800 hours of video footage, conducted nine raids, and analyzed Payne's cell phone data.^[5]
• Medical examinations confirmed Payne's injuries were consistent with a fall from a height and ruled out both self-inflicted injuries and third-party intervention.^[3]
• The investigation into the circumstances of his demise will continue as the singer's devices are still being analyzed.^[6][1]

Sources: ^[1]NPR Online News, ^[2]BBC News, ^[3]CNN, ^[4]Daily Mail, ^[5]CBS and ^[6]Reuters.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by New York Post and NBC. This is looking more and more like criminal negligence, with evidence of drug dealing within the hotel and a staff that failed to protect Payne despite his vulnerable state. The suspects likely exploited his condition by supplying drugs and abandoning him when he needed help the most.
• Narrative B, as provided by Hindustantimes and Guardian. The incident was a tragic accident involving consenting adults, with no evidence of forced drug use or intentional harm. Payne had a documented history of substance abuse issues and had recently completed rehabilitation, suggesting personal struggles rather than criminal exploitation.