Liam Payne: Three charged in connection with singer's death

Argentinian authorities have announced that three individuals have been formally charged in relation to the death of Liam Payne, the former One Direction member.

The vocalist passed away on October 16 after plummeting from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.

According to the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office, an individual who was with the artist has been accused of abandoning someone, resulting in their death, as well as providing and facilitating drug use.

A hotel worker and another individual have been accused of drug distribution. The identities of all those apprehended have not been disclosed.

At 31, Payne, who has one child, gained significant popularity in the pop music scene after participating in The X Factor and achieving stardom as a member of the boyband One Direction during the 2010s.

Authorities in Argentina are looking into Payne's last days spent at the CasaSur hotel.

Following the singer's passing, authorities discovered various substances in his hotel room, along with damaged items and furniture. Hotel personnel had reached out to emergency services twice, indicating that a guest had consumed "excessive amounts of drugs and alcohol" and was "wrecking the whole room," as reported earlier.

On Thursday, the district attorney's office announced that toxicology tests found evidence of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his system.

An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was due to "multiple injuries" and "internal and external bleeding" stemming from the fall from the hotel balcony.

The prosecutor's office indicated that medical reports implied Payne might have fallen while in a state of partial or complete unconsciousness.

The prosecutors state that this eliminates the chance that Payne acted deliberately or intentionally. They determine that he was unaware of his actions and did not comprehend what was happening.

Furthermore, officials have executed nine searches at residences throughout Buenos Aires.

They are still looking into Payne's damaged laptop and the other gadgets that were taken.

The prosecutor's office reported that it has reviewed over 800 hours of video recorded by security cameras at the hotel and in the surrounding streets. Additionally, they have gathered numerous accounts from hotel employees, family members, friends, and medical experts.

On Wednesday, the singer's remains were handed over to his family so they could be transported back to the UK.

After Payne's passing, numerous tributes poured in, including heartfelt messages from his ex-partner Cheryl, his One Direction bandmates, and music industry leader Simon Cowell.

Payne's fellow band members Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Harry Styles expressed their deep sorrow in a shared statement, stating that they are "absolutely heartbroken" and will greatly miss the singer. They also emphasized that the “moments we experienced together will always be cherished."

Numerous fans gathered to honor the memory of the late singer at memorial events both in the UK and across the globe.