Argentina Liam Payne's family: speculation "has weighed on us"
The family of the deceased British One Direction singer Liam Payne has spoken out emotionally following the dropped charges against three of the five suspects. "The constant media attention and speculation that has accompanied the trial has caused indescribable, lasting damage to the family, particularly Liam's son who is trying to process emotions that no seven-year-old should have to experience," reads a statement from Payne's family to PA news agency after the Brit Awards.
02.03.2025, 13:26
SDA
The show at London's o2 Arena on Saturday night ended with a tribute to the late singer. Speculation about a reunion of Payne's former bandmates from One Direction was not confirmed.
Payne fell from the balcony of a room on the third floor of a hotel in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires last year on October 16 at the age of 31. According to the public prosecutor's office, forensic experts believe it is likely that he passed out while trying to climb over the balcony railing. An autopsy revealed that he had been found to have large quantities of alcohol and cocaine.
Two men still in custody
At the end of February, charges against a confidant of the pop star and two hotel executives were dropped. The court ruled that they had not borne any particular responsibility for Payne and were therefore not to be prosecuted. Two other suspects are still in custody. The two young men are accused of supplying Payne with cocaine. They face up to 15 years in prison.
"We understand that the investigation into Liam's death was absolutely necessary and the family recognizes the work of the Argentine authorities," the relatives said in the statement. The family accepts the Court of Appeal's decision to drop all charges. "The family has always wished to be able to grieve in peace and ask that they be given the space and time to do so."
