Almost two years after the tragic death of singer Liam Payne, the judicial investigation in Argentina took a definitive turn for one of the main people involved. Roger Nores, businessman and close friend of the former One Direction member, who was acquitted of all criminal charges against him.

The singer died on October 16, 2024 at the age of 31 after falling from the balcony of his room on the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires. Since then, the case has been under an exhaustive investigation that has gone through several judicial stages.

Roger Nores, 38, CEO of Stoneway Capital Corp., was initially charged with manslaughter in November 2024. This charge was dropped in February 2025. However, from June 2025 to April 2026, he remained charged with an offense related to the supply of narcotics.

The central point of this accusation was a message found on Liam Payne's phone, in which the singer requested “six grams” from Nores. According to court filings, Nores never responded to that message, and judges determined there was no evidence he agreed to provide drugs.

It was Chamber 3 of the Criminal Court of Cassation of Buenos Aires that confirmed the dismissal of Nores in a ruling signed on June 9. The three judges agreed that Liam Payne, as a 31-year-old adult, was free to make his own decisions regarding drug use, and that Nores had no criminal responsibility for the events.

The decision was clear and was not appealed by the prosecution within the legal period, which makes the acquittal final.

The defense posture

Nores' defense lawyer, Rafael Cúneo Libarona, confirmed the solidity of the ruling in statements to the media. "There is no possibility of Nores being included in the case again. The court was clear in its ruling and exonerated him of any crime," he said.

Libarona emphasized the nature of the relationship between the two: "Roger never had an obligation to care for Payne, much less his addictions. He was not Liam's guarantor. He was his friend, not his doctor, nurse or therapist."

Although Nores is removed from the case, the investigation is not concluded. Two men remain under judicial process: waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz, 26, and hotel worker Ezequiel David Pereyra, 22. Both are accused of selling cocaine to Liam Payne before his death.

Paiz and Pereyra spent more than a year in police custody and a federal prison until their release in March.

Discussions have reportedly been held for a possible plea deal that could reduce the charge to “free supply of drugs,” which carries a maximum sentence of six months. Augusto Maria Cassiau, Pereyra's lawyer, indicated that they would be willing to accept the offer if it is formalized.