Liam Payne Died After Trying to Escape via Hotel Balcony, Says Judge

Payne’s friend and two hotel workers now face wrongful death charges for negligence, while two others face prison time for allegedly selling him drugs

Liam Payne’s death was not the result of merely “losing his balance” before falling from a hotel balcony. Instead, he was attempting to escape the building while under the influence of drugs, according to the judge overseeing his death investigation. In a ruling obtained by Rolling Stone, Judge Laura Bruniard disclosed new details about the circumstances surrounding the former One Direction singer’s death and announced updated charges against five individuals involved in the case.

Judge Bruniard has filed “homicidio culposo” (wrongful death) charges against Payne’s friend Roger Nores, CasaSur Palermo hotel manager Gilda Martin, and reception head Esteban Grassi. These charges stem from their alleged “imprudence and negligence” leading to Payne’s death. Nores, initially facing five to 15 years in prison for “abandonment followed by death,” now faces reduced charges.

“I do not believe that [Nores, Martin, and Grassi] intentionally caused Payne’s death. They did not plan the outcome but created a legally disapproved risk,” Judge Bruniard stated.

If convicted, Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz, accused of selling cocaine to Payne, face potential sentences of four to 15 years in prison. Both have been ordered into preventative custody pending trial.

The charges against Martin and Grassi were based on evidence showing Payne being “dragged up” to his hotel room on Oct. 16 while in a “vulnerable state.” Judge Bruniard argued that this act of bringing him to his room while intoxicated “created a legally disapproved risk to his life.” According to an autopsy report, Payne died of multiple traumas and internal bleeding from the fall.

“Payne’s altered consciousness, coupled with the presence of a balcony in the room, warranted leaving him in a safe place under supervision until medical assistance arrived,” the judge noted, emphasizing the hotel workers’ “imprudence” despite their lack of malicious intent.

Contrary to earlier claims that Payne fainted on the balcony, the judge concluded that he had attempted to leave his room through the balcony due to his intoxicated state.

Regarding Nores, the judge highlighted that he had assumed a “guarantor” role for Payne’s family. Despite Payne’s apparent vulnerability, Nores left the hotel 50 minutes before the incident. The judge criticized Nores for failing to seek medical attention for Payne, trusting the hotel staff to handle the situation instead.

Investigations revealed Payne’s severe addiction and confirmed the presence of large quantities of cocaine and alcohol in his system. Pereyra and Paiz, accused of supplying the drugs, will remain in custody. Payne allegedly paid Pereyra $100 for drugs and arranged for additional cocaine delivery. Despite Paiz’s denial of being compensated, the judge determined that Payne sought money from the hotel reception while Paiz was present in his room.

Paiz’s attorney, Fernando Madeo Facente, condemned the ruling as a “witch hunt,” calling the preventative jail order “arbitrary and illegitimate.”

Both Pereyra and Paiz will remain in custody as they await trial. Judge Bruniard emphasized that evidence proves both individuals supplied cocaine to Payne in exchange for money.

Nores declined to comment, while Grassi and representatives of Payne’s family did not respond to Rolling Stone’s requests for comment.