Five people charged in connection with Liam Payne's death, prosecutor says

Five people have been charged in connection with the death of Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer who died on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, according to a public notice issued by Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office.

Liam Payne attends the World Premiere of 'I Am Bolt' at Odeon Leicester Square on November 28, 2016 in London, England.

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Hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi, and Payne's buddy Roger Nores have all been charged with manslaughter. Additionally, hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz have been accused with drug distribution. In Argentina's judicial system, prosecutors gather evidence before a judge decides whether to continue to trial. Judge Laura Bruniard has advanced the case to the next step, a decision that the defendants' attorneys may challenge. If the appeal fails, the matter will go to trial.

Court documents only identify the suspects by their initials. Payne's companion, known as "RLN," is charged with manslaughter for allegedly failing to fulfill his duty of care and leaving Payne while knowing he was incapacitated due to substance addiction. Hotel manager "GAM" is also charged with manslaughter for failing to prevent Payne from being carried to his room under unsafe conditions. Chief receptionist "ERG" faces identical allegations for allegedly asking staff to forcefully transport Payne to his room rather than ensuring his safety.

"Payne's consciousness was altered and there was a balcony in the room," the jury's verdict said. "The correct thing to do was to leave him somewhere secure and with company until a doctor arrived. The manager GAM and the head of reception ERG were in charge of the hotel on that particular day."

Judge Bruniard stressed that, while these persons most certainly did not intend for Payne to die, their acts or inactions put his life in grave danger. "They were imprudent in allowing him to be taken to the room and taking him there respectively," according to his conclusion. "They created a legally disapproved risk and Payne's death is the concretization of that risk."

According to the BBC, if convicted, manslaughter accusations entail punishments of one to five years in jail, and drug-supplying charges bring significantly heavier penalties ranging from four to 15 years. The judge ordered Pereyra and Paiz, the two people suspected of selling narcotics, to stay in detention and appear in court within 24 hours.

Payne died as a result of severe wounds and hemorrhages sustained from a fall from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. Toxicology results confirmed the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his body. Prior to the deadly occurrence, the head receptionist placed two emergency calls: the first reported a visitor "trashing the entire room," and the second expressed fear that the client's life "may be in danger." Despite these worries, the receptionist only requested medical services and not police aid.

Payne's funeral was held last month in Amersham, United Kingdom. It was attended by his former One Direction teammates, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik, as well as his fiancée Kate Cassidy and ex-partner Cheryl Cole, with whom he shares a kid.