Liam Payne friend Roger Nores cleared in death case
Court records cited by the New York Post show charges against Roger Nores are final, while two other men remain under investigation.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
Roger Nores, a close friend of Liam Payne, has been cleared of criminal charges connected to the One Direction singer’s death in Argentina, according to court records obtained by the New York Post.
The records show prosecutors did not challenge the ruling dismissing the case against Nores, making that decision final, the Post reported. Nores, an Argentine businessman, had faced scrutiny after Payne died in Buenos Aires in October 2024.
Payne, 31, died after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on Oct. 16, 2024, according to TMZ’s earlier reporting.
Nores said he was a friend, not a caretaker
According to TMZ, Nores had been accused of abandoning Payne despite allegedly knowing the singer was dealing with addiction issues. Nores denied that he had any legal duty to supervise Payne and maintained he had tried to help him.
Nores’ lawyer made the same point in comments to the New York Post, saying Nores “never had the duty of caring for Payne” and was “not his physician, nurse, or therapist.”
Judges accepted that argument, according to TMZ, finding Payne was responsible for his own choices and that Nores did not carry criminal responsibility in the matter.
The latest decision follows an earlier win for Nores in the same death investigation. TMZ reported that in February 2025, manslaughter charges against him were dropped after a court found there was nothing he could have done to prevent Payne’s death.
Case continues for two others
The investigation has not fully ended. Two men accused of supplying drugs to Payne before his death are still under investigation, according to the New York Post.
The Post reported that prosecutors are examining evidence taken from electronic devices. A possible plea agreement is also being discussed, according to that report.
Nores’ final dismissal narrows the legal fallout from Payne’s death, but Argentine authorities are still pursuing the remaining part of the case involving the alleged drug supply claims.
Payne rose to global fame as a member of One Direction. His death prompted legal proceedings in Argentina and continued attention from fans and officials in the months that followed.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.