Judge Rules That Liam Payne’s Manager and Hotel Staff Neglected the ‘Vulnerable’ Singer Before His Death

An Argentine judge stated that the manager of former One Direction singer Liam Payne and hotel employees failed to protect the popstar in the moments leading to his death, allowing charges against them to proceed, as per a statement from the prosecutor’s office on Monday.

Payne tragically fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October.

Payne’s manager, along with the hotel manager and head of reception, face manslaughter charges in connection to the former pop superstar’s death. If convicted, they could face up to five years in prison.

An employee of the hotel and a local waiter are accused of giving Payne cocaine during his stay, potentially leading to his death, and could receive up to 15 years in prison. The judge ordered their detention prior to their trial in her ruling on Friday.

“Taking Payne to his room in his vulnerable state was a deadly risk,” the judge mentioned in her ruling, as released alongside the prosecutor’s statement. “It was evident that he was in a precarious situation.”

Payne’s autopsy revealed high levels of cocaine and alcohol in his system at the time of his passing, according to the statement.

It is alleged that Payne bought cocaine multiple times from the hotel employee and waiter over a span of three days.

Surveillance footage from the Casa Sur hotel’s lobby in the exclusive Palermo neighborhood depicted Payne unconscious moments before his passing on Oct. 16, being carried by three individuals to his room.

The hotel receptionist led the group and was later seen with the hotel manager in the hallway outside Payne’s room, as stated in the release.

“Given Payne’s altered state and the presence of a balcony in the room, the appropriate action would have been to ensure his safety until a doctor could arrive,” the judge remarked.

Evidence indicated that Payne tried to exit his room through the balcony but tragically fell due to his condition.

Payne’s manager, known by the initials “RLN,” departed the hotel less than an hour before the incident. The judge argued he should not have entrusted Payne’s well-being to the hotel staff.

The judge also prohibited the manager, a U.S. citizen, from leaving Argentina.

By Kylie Madry