It has been over a year since the world stopped for a second on that October afternoon. You probably remember where you were when the news broke. Liam Payne, the "sensible" one from One Direction, dead at 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires. It felt impossible. Honestly, it still kinda does.
But as we move into 2026, the fog is finally starting to lift. We aren't just looking at grainy TMZ photos or frantic tweets anymore. We have court rulings. We have autopsy translations. And, most importantly for the fans who have stayed loyal through the grief, we have news about the music he left behind.
The Legal Update: Who Was Actually Responsible?
For months, the big question was whether Liam was alone or if someone pushed him. Or worse, if someone watched it happen and did nothing. Argentine authorities have spent over a year picking apart every second of October 16, 2024.
Here is the latest. In early 2025, a court in Argentina made a massive decision that changed the narrative of the case. They dropped the criminal negligence charges against three of the five people originally indicted. This included Rogelio Nores, a businessman and friend who had been with Liam in the days leading up to the fall.
The judge basically said that while Nores knew Liam was struggling with substances, he didn't have a "legal or moral duty" to be his 24/7 bodyguard. It’s a tough pill to swallow for some, but the law is specific. The hotel manager and a receptionist were also cleared of negligent homicide. The court ruled that taking an intoxicated guest back to his room—even one with a balcony—wasn’t "reckless conduct" by hotel standards.
The people still in the crosshairs:
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- Ezequiel David Pereyra: A former hotel employee.
- Braian Paiz: A waiter from a nearby restaurant.
These two are still facing serious heat for allegedly supplying the narcotics found in Liam’s system. We’re talking about a potential 4 to 15 years in prison if convicted. The investigation found a cocktail of substances: alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant (sertraline). Notably, the "pink cocaine" rumors that flooded TikTok early on were largely debunked by the official toxicology reports.
The 2026 Inquest: Why Is It Taking So Long?
If you're wondering why there hasn't been a final, definitive "closed case" stamp in the UK, it’s because of the red tape. Senior Coroner Crispin Butler recently pushed the final inquest back to May 7, 2026.
Why the wait?
Basically, the UK court is waiting for every single witness statement and police report to be officially translated from Spanish and sent over by the Argentine government. It’s a slow, bureaucratic nightmare. They want to be 100% sure about the "how" and "when" before they finalize the record.
One thing the Argentine prosecutors have been firm on: they ruled out suicide. They believe Liam was in a state of "semi or total unconsciousness" when he went over the railing. He didn't have "reflexive" injuries on his hands, which means he didn't even try to catch himself. He just fell. It’s a small, heartbreaking detail that clarifies he likely didn't intend for that day to be his last.
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The "Limbo" of the Posthumous Album
Liam was busy before he went to Argentina. He had been working on a second solo album—the follow-up to LP1—and he was incredibly proud of it. Friends say he felt he had finally "turned a corner" with his sound.
Right now, that music is sitting in a vault.
Sources close to the family say there are actually two albums worth of material. One was recorded in North London with producer Jamie Scott, and another was finished in Florida and Sweden during the summer of 2024. There’s a track called "Safe In Heaven" and another titled "Rainbows" where he reportedly sings about "searching for a way back" to himself.
But will we ever hear it?
His family, led by his father Geoff and his sisters Ruth and Nicola, are being very careful. They don't want to "cash in." They want to honor him. There’s a rumor that some tracks might be released alongside the Netflix series Building The Band, where Liam served as a mentor. For now, though, the official word is "undecided."
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Dealing With the Legacy and the £24 Million
Liam didn't leave a will. When you're 31, you don't usually think you need one. Because of that, his estate—valued at roughly £24.3 million—is a bit of a legal puzzle.
The majority of it is expected to go to his son, Bear. Cheryl (formerly Cheryl Cole) is one of the executors. There’s been some tabloid noise about how the money will be managed, but the goal is clearly to ensure Bear is set for life. It’s the one piece of "good" news in this whole mess; the kid he adored is being looked after.
What to Do Now
If you're a fan still processing this, or just someone following the news, here are the concrete things to keep an eye on:
- Mark May 7, 2026: This is the date for the next pre-inquest review in the UK. This is when we might get the final official cause of death on British record.
- Watch Netflix: Building The Band is the last time we’ll see Liam’s personality on screen in a professional capacity. It shows him as a mentor, which many friends say was the role he was born for.
- Ignore the "Pink Cocaine" clickbait: Stick to the official toxicology reports released by the Buenos Aires Public Prosecutor's office. Most of the early "mystery" was just internet speculation.
- Support the Family’s Privacy: Ruth and Nicola Payne have been vocal on Instagram about the damage caused by media speculation. If they choose not to release the album, that’s their call to make.
The story of Liam Payne in 2026 isn't just about a tragedy anymore. It's about a slow, painful search for the truth and a family trying to protect the memory of a guy who, at the end of the day, just wanted to make people happy.