There’s still potential for ’s friend, , to be charged in the late singer’s death investigation.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ on Tuesday, December 3, a judge is allowing Argentina’s national prosecutors to proceed with their investigation into Nores for Payne’s death. Nores could be charged with abandonment of a person followed by death.
Nores previously claimed that he has not been charged. His lawyers filed documents stating that a case against Nores should be handled by local Buenos Aires prosecutors, per the outlet.
Payne died at age 31 while visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina in October. The former One Direction singer suffered a fatal fall from a third-story hotel balcony. An autopsy revealed that Payne sustained several injuries involving internal and external hemorrhages. He also had various drugs in his system including “pink cocaine” and crack.
On the day of Payne’s death, Nores saw the musician at the hotel before his fatal fall. Nores has denied that he abandoned Payne.
“I never abandoned Liam. I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened,” Nores said in a November statement to the Daily Mail. “There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could have never imagined something like this would happen.”
As Payne’s death has been investigated by the authorities, Nores has shared that he gave a statement to the prosecutor following the incident and had not been in contact after that point.
“I haven’t spoken to any police officer or prosecutor ever since,” Nores continued. “I wasn’t Liam’s manager; he was just my very dear friend … I’m really heartbroken with this tragedy, and I’ve been missing my friend every day.”
Payne is survived by his parents, his two older sisters and his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey, whom he shared with ex .
Payne’s remains were transported from Argentina to England ahead of the funeral. The service for Payne took place in November, where the singer’s family and friends paid their respects. Payne’s girlfriend and his former One Direction bandmates attended the memorial in Amersham, England.
Three individuals were charged in connection to Payne’s death including a hotel employee and one of Payne’s travel companions. The suspects were charged with abandonment leading to death and the supply and facilitation of narcotics.
was one of the suspects charged and he exclusively told Us Weekly that he plans to cooperate fully with the ongoing police investigation.
“I want to contribute everything: my phone, everything to the investigation,” Paiz said. “I have nothing that can harm me. … The other thing is to contribute what I saw personally and what I experienced firsthand.”
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