One year on from Liam Payne’s tragic death in Argentina, his family are still waiting to learn the full circumstances of the events that led to the One Direction star’s fall from a balcony
One year ago today the world was rocked by the news that former One Direction star Liam Payne had fallen to his death from a hotel balcony.
However, despite a year having passed, investigators are still attempting to piece together Payne’s final hours in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was alone after his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 26, flew home.
Charges have been brought against a hotel employee and a waiter, but there are many unanswered questions and the star’s family still face an agonising wait to learn the full circumstances of the days and hours leading up to his untimely death.
What we know so far
Payne died aged 31 after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sur Palmero Hotel around 5pm local time on 16 October 2024, with his funeral held in Amersham, Bucks, the following month.
The singer’s medical cause of death was ruled by a UK inquest to be polytrauma – when a person has multiple injuries to the body. However, a toxicology report also found traces of cocaine, alcohol and prescription antidepressants in his system.
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Shortly after his death, Payne’s friend Rogelio ‘Roger” Nores, hotel operator Gilda Martin and receptionist Esteban Grassi faced manslaughter charges, but these were dropped.
However, charges brought against hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz, who have been charged with supplying cocaine to Payne, have not.Both men deny the charges but have been in police custody since January.
Case’s ongoing mysteries
A trial date has not yet been set for Pereyra and Paiz, as the authorities in Argentina are still working through 800 hours of footage from CCTV, mobile phones and laptops, meaning neither have had their say on their interactions with Liam in court.
The pair were formally accused in June, with prosecutors alleging they supplied Payne with drugs at least twice in the fortnight before his death. CCTV footage is said to show Payne asking Pereyra for “seven grams more” during a brief lift exchange at the hotel on the day he died.
In Argentina, the prosecution must set evidence before a judge, who will decide if a trial goes ahead or if charges will be dropped. A source told The Sun: “Police are still looking through Liam’s laptop and the mobile phones of people connected to the inquiry.
“It’s very frustrating as the likelihood of a trial still seems a long way off, and there is a sense that the police investigation is too slow.” According to the paper, one of the suspect’s phones was used to contact Payne in the days leading up to his death, but was not searched until May, despite being taken into evidence in November.
If found guilty, Pereyra and Paiz could spend up to 15 years in prison. Paiz has admitted to providing Payne with cocaine, but denies taking money, which is what he has been charged with.
How are his family marking the anniversary?
Ahead of the anniversary, Payne’s family raised £250,000 in his honour to support children battling cancer at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
They started raising the money shortly after his death by encouraging mourning fans to donate to the hospital instead of sending flowers. In the order of service for his funeral, it was revealed that the money would go towards a new centre as part of Payne’s legacy.
The order of service read: “Your donation today will continue Liam’s legacy by helping to build a brand new Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital. This incredible new building will help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, funner and longer.”
A spokesperson for the children’s hospital said they were “touched” by everyone’s generosity. “We’re so touched by the generosity shown towards GOSH in Liam’s memory. Every donation is helping us take another step towards a world-leading children’s cancer centre.
“It’s a place of hope which will help build the future of children’s cancer care and save more lives. It’s a lasting legacy that will make a difference for generations.”
If you have been affected by this story, Cruse Bereavement Support offers free help to make sense of how you are feeling. Click here for their website or call 0808 808 1677.