Liam Payne: Three charged in connection with death of One Direction star
Three people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction star Liam Payne in Argentina, the public prosecutor's office in the country has said.
The 31-year-old pop star died after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on 16 October.
The prosecutor ordered the arrest of the three and charged one with "abandonment of a person followed by death" and supplying drugs.
The suspect "accompanied the artist on a daily basis" during his stay in the Argentinian capital, according to a statement from the office of prosecutor Andres Esteban Madrea.
A hotel employee and a third person were charged with supplying drugs.
Prosecutors rule out 'self-harm'
The prosecutor's office also said there was nothing to indicate any third-party involvement in his death and ruled out "self-harm".
The statement said Payne did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself from the fall, meaning it can be inferred he may have fallen "in a state of semi or total unconsciousness".
"Liam Payne was not fully conscious or was experiencing a state of noticeable decrease or loss of consciousness at the time of the fall", it said.
It added that would "rule out the possibility of a conscious or voluntary act" as "in the state he was in, he did not know what he was doing nor could he understand it".
The results of toxicology tests revealed in the moments before his death Payne had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his body, it added.
The investigation continues, the statement said, with some of Payne's devices still being analysed.
It said the prosecutor's office had received several dozen testimonies, analysed more than 800 hours of video from security cameras and public roads, and conducted a "forensic extraction" of the contents of Payne's phone.
It said the investigation revealed "at least four supplies of narcotics".
According to the post-mortem examination, Payne died from "multiple" injuries and internal and external bleeding.
Argentine investigators found what appeared to be narcotics and alcohol strewn around broken objects and furniture in Payne's hotel room, leading the public prosecution to surmise he had suffered a substance abuse-induced breakdown around the time of his fall.
Nine raids were also ordered on properties in Buenos Aires.
Release of new song postponed
It comes after new music featuring vocals by Liam Payne had its release date postponed.
US singer and songwriter Sam Pounds, who collaborated with Payne on Do No Wrong, previously said the track would be out on 1 November, but has since said its release had been postponed because "it's not the time yet".
Last month Payne's girlfriend of two years, Kate Cassidy, revealed the couple had planned on getting married next year. The 25-year-old had been in Argentina with Payne until two days before his death.
Source: news.sky.com
Trending Entertainment
Liam Payne: Three charged in connection with death of One Direction star
01:00Cubans love Stonebwoy, King Promise – Medical student, singer KJ.
17:37Gloria Sarfo to AMAAs: I demand public apology to Ghanaian actors for 'total disrespect'
16:12Gloria Sarfo on 'relationship that almost got into marriage', vow to keep future relationships private
08:43Prosecutors to consider bringing charges against Tim Westwood
14:42Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK
23:42Shatta Wale to Black Sherif: You misunderstood my fashion critique, mind your steps before I end your career
00:43Prophet Joseph Atarah to Evangelist Papa Shee: The devil uses even Gospel musicians, go easy on secular musicians
15:38GMX App not government-funded: GMX Multimedia exec
23:56'The Guardians: The Chosen Ones' – Mills Media set to premiere new animation series in Dec
18:08