One Direction will be reunited for the first time in almost a decade as Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Niall Horan attend Liam Payne’s funeral following his death last month
Singer Liam Payne’s funeral will take place in the Home Counties tomorrow (Wednesday) with his One Direction bandmates amongst the mourners.
The One Direction star was only 31 when he fatally fell from the third floor balcony of his hotel room in Argentina on October 16. On November 6, officials in Buenos Aires, allowed the family to fly his body home. His body was released to his family to be flown back to the UK, having previously been held while toxicology and laboratory tests were carried out.
The star’s father Geoff was also on the flight back into the UK along with the singer’s body, which was then reportedly taken to his hometown of Wolverhampton. Last week, it was announced that three people have been charged in connection with Liam’s death in Argentina. The public prosecutor’s office in the country said three people had been charged with “abandonment of a person followed by death” and supply and facilitation of narcotics in connection with Liam’s tragic passing.
The One Direction bandmates of the late star are included within the list of attendees; Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy is also expected to attend along with Simon Cowell. In a joint statement last month, One Direction said: “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.”
Liam’s father had flown out to the South American country and visited the hotel where Liam had died, to take a look at all the tributes left by fans, following his death on October 16. Just before his death, it has been reported that the father of son Bear, who he shares with Cheryl Tweedy, had been in Buenos Aires to update his US visa and also watch pal Niall perform at the Movistar Arena. In a statement his family previously said: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
Three people have since been charged in connection with Liam’s death. According to a translation of the statement issued by the public prosecutor’s office in Argentina, prosecutors said “exhaustive and meticulous measures were taken to clarify the circumstances” around the 31-year-old dad-of-one’s death. The statement said: “Based on the evidence gathered and after analysing the various bodies of proceedings and numerous documentary annexes and the background of the case, prosecutor Andres Esteban Madrea formally charged three people, requesting their questioning and arrest in a 180-page ruling presented last Friday to Judge Bruniard.”
Prosecutors said one of the individuals was accompanying the singer on a daily basis in Argentina and stands accused of abandonment of a person followed by death, which could carry a sentence of up to 15 years. Another was an employee at the hotel where Payne was staying. The third person allegedly supplied drugs.
An autopsy established that Liam suffered “multiple traumas” and “internal and external haemorrhaging”, with 25 injuries that were “consistent with a fall from a great height”. On 7 November, the prosecutor’s office said toxicology tests revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his body. They also ruled out self-harm or physical intervention by a third party.
