ARGENTINA – Five people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction singer Liam Payne in Argentina, the authorities there say. The 31-year-old star died on 16 october after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires. The hotel’s manager, Gilda Martin, and its receptionist, Esteban Grassi, as well as Payne’s friend Roger Nores have been charged with manslaughter, Argentina’s prosecutor’s office says. Ezequiel Pereyra – who also worked at the hotel – and Braian Paiz, a waiter, have been charged with supplying drugs.

Under Argentina’s legal system, the prosecutor’s office gathers evidence which it then presents to a judge, who has to decide whether to proceed to trial. According to a statement released by the prosecutor’s office, Judge Laura Bruniard already took the decision to proceed to the next stage on Friday.

• Hotel employee EDP is suspected of having sold Liam Payne cocaine on 15 and 16 October
• Waiter BNP is also suspected of having sold cocaine to Liam Payne twice on 14 October
• Payne’s friend RLN is suspected of manslaughter for allegedly “failing to fulfil his duties of care, assistance and help” towards the singer after having “abandoned him to his luck knowing that he was incapable of fending for himself and knowing that he [Payne] suffered from multiple addictions”
• Hotel Manager GAM is suspected of manslaughter for allegedly failing to stop Payne from being taken to his hotel room moments before his death. According to the court papers, given Payne’s state, the room’s balcony posed a “serious threat” and the manager should have ensured Payne was kept in a safe place until medical help arrived
• Chief receptionist ERG is also suspected of manslaughter for allegedly asking three people to “drag” Payne, who could not stand up, to his room, instead of keeping him safe.

Judge Bruniard said that she did not think that Liam Payne’s friend, the hotel manager and the receptionist “had planned or wanted the death of Payne” but that their actions had created a “risk” to his life. If found guilty, the three could face sentences of between one and five years in prison. The sentence for supplying drugs is more severe and ranges between four and 15 years in jail. Judge Bruniard has ordered the two accused of supplying the drugs be remanded in custody. They have been summoned to appear within 24 working hours. (BBC)