The shock of October 16, 2024, hasn't really worn off for anyone who grew up with a One Direction poster on their wall. When news broke that Liam Payne had fallen from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, it felt like a glitch in the matrix. But as the candles from the vigils flickered out, the legal machinery in Argentina started grinding. Fast forward to now, and the narrative around the Liam Payne death arrests has taken more twists than a prestige TV thriller.
You’ve probably seen the headlines. People were handcuffed. Names were leaked. Charges were filed, then dropped, then debated. It’s a mess of legal jargon and heartbreak.
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Honestly, trying to follow the court proceedings in a foreign country while grieving a childhood idol is exhausting. But if you want to understand why some people walked free while others are still staring at a potential 15-year sentence, we need to look at the actual evidence the Argentinian prosecutors gathered—and why the courts didn’t always agree with them.
The Night Everything Shattered
Before we get into the handcuffs, we have to talk about the room. When police entered Room 10 at the CasaSur, they didn’t find a peaceful scene. It was "total disorder." There were broken objects, various medications, and the remnants of what toxicology later confirmed was a "polydrug" cocktail. We’re talking alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants.
The autopsy was brutal but clear: "polytrauma." Basically, multiple traumatic injuries from the fall. But the detail that really haunted fans was the lack of "defensive reflexes." It suggested that Liam wasn't even conscious when he went over that railing.
This sparked the big question: How did a global superstar get to that point in a high-end hotel without anyone stopping it?
Who Faced the Handcuffs?
In the months following the tragedy, the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office in Argentina didn't just sit around. They reviewed 800 hours of security footage. They did nine raids. They went through Liam's phone like a fine-tooth comb. Eventually, they zeroed in on five key individuals.
The Inner Circle and the Staff
Initially, the heat was on three specific people for "abandonment of a person followed by death" and manslaughter:
- Rogelio "Roger" Nores: An Argentinian businessman with US citizenship who had been Liam’s constant companion during the Buenos Aires trip.
- Gilda Martin: The manager of the CasaSur Hotel.
- Esteban Grassi: The hotel’s main receptionist.
The prosecutors’ logic was simple, if a bit aggressive. They argued that these three saw Liam in a state where he couldn't even stand. Instead of calling an ambulance or keeping him away from a balcony, they allegedly "dragged" him to his room and left him there.
The Suppliers
Then you have the two men facing much more serious time. These weren't "negligence" charges; these were drug charges.
- Ezequiel David Pereyra: A former CasaSur hotel employee.
- Braian Paiz: A waiter from an upscale restaurant where Liam had dined.
Both were accused of supplying the narcotics that ended up in Liam’s system. Unlike the "abandonment" charges, the evidence here was reportedly backed by "conclusive" digital trails—messages and calls that linked them directly to the delivery of the substances.
Why the Case Flipped in February 2025
Here is where the Liam Payne death arrests story gets complicated. In February 2025, an Argentinian federal appeals court basically took a highlighter to the prosecution's case and crossed out the manslaughter charges.
They dropped the criminal negligence charges against Roger Nores, Gilda Martin, and Esteban Grassi.
Why? The court ruled that the prosecutors simply hadn't proven that taking Liam to his room was "reckless" or "unlawful." In Nores’ case, the defense argued he had no "legal, moral, or social duty" to stay with Liam 24/7, and he actually wasn't even at the hotel when the fall happened. He’d left about 40 minutes prior.
It was a massive blow to those hoping for a "negligence" conviction. For the hotel staff, the court found that while they might have been "clumsy" in how they handled an intoxicated guest, it didn't rise to the level of a crime.
The Men Still in Custody
While three people walked away, Pereyra and Paiz remained in pre-trial detention. In Argentina, drug supply charges are no joke. We are looking at a potential sentence of 4 to 15 years.
The court justified keeping them locked up because of the severity of the crimes. As of 2026, the focus of the Argentinian investigation has shifted almost entirely onto the supply chain. They want to know exactly how the "pink cocaine" and other substances made it past hotel security and into Liam’s hands.
The UK Connection: The 2026 Inquest
While the drama unfolds in Buenos Aires, back in the UK, things are moving at a much slower, more formal pace. A UK coroner’s inquest was actually postponed until May 7, 2026.
Senior Coroner Crispin Butler is waiting for every single piece of evidence from Argentina to be formally translated. They want the eyewitness statements. They want the full autopsy reports. They aren't looking to "blame" people in the way the Argentinian criminal court is; they are looking to answer the statutory questions: Who, when, where, and how.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers
It’s easy to get lost in the "justice for Liam" hashtags, but the legal reality is often colder and slower than social media demands. If you’re following this case, here is what you actually need to keep an eye on:
- Watch the Supply Trial: The criminal proceedings against Pereyra and Paiz are the only active "arrest" cases left. Their trial will likely determine the final legal accountability for the substances involved.
- Check the May 2026 Inquest: This is when we will likely get the most comprehensive, public-facing summary of the evidence, including translated testimony that hasn't been fully released yet.
- Understand Jurisdiction: Remember that Argentinian law operates differently than US or UK law. "Preventative detention" is common there for serious charges, which is why the suppliers are still held while the others are free.
- Ignore the "Watch" Rumors: There was a lot of noise about Liam’s missing Rolex during the raids. While it was a point of interest for police, it hasn't resulted in separate theft charges that stick to the main death investigation.
The story of the Liam Payne death arrests isn't a closed book. It’s a series of legal battles happening across two continents. While the manslaughter charges might be gone, the investigation into how those final hours were fueled continues to move through the courts.
Stay informed by looking for official court releases rather than tabloid "sources," as the translation from Spanish to English often loses the nuance of the specific charges. The next big milestone is that May 2026 hearing, which should finally bring some level of formal closure to the timeline of that tragic afternoon in Palermo.
Next Steps for Readers:
Keep a close watch on the official updates from the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 16 in Argentina. If you are following the UK proceedings, the Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court will be the primary source for the May 2026 inquest findings.