Overview of the Ruling

A panel of judges has confirmed their decision to acquit three individuals involved in the investigation surrounding the untimely death of singer Liam Payne. The ruling, delivered on March 12, found that there was insufficient evidence to justify the charges of involuntary manslaughter initially brought against Payne’s associate Roger Nores and hotel employees Gilda Martin and Esteban Grassi.

Prosecution’s Appeal

The prosecutor’s office submitted an appeal on March 5, contesting the original ruling. They argued that crucial evidence—including digital information from Payne’s devices and relevant hard drives—had not been adequately reviewed. The appeal claimed that the initial decision was fundamentally flawed, suggesting that further examination of the evidence was necessary.

Court’s Response

In response to the prosecutor’s appeal, the court stated that while the appeal was formally presented, it lacked the substantive merit required to alter the outcome. The judges noted that the appeal merely expressed dissatisfaction with the prior evaluation of the evidence, failing to provide specific critiques of the legal reasoning behind the acquittals.

“Rather than providing a specific and detailed critique of the Court’s reasoning, the appeal merely expresses disagreement with the evaluation of the collected evidence,” the ruling emphasized.

Next Steps for the Prosecution

The prosecutor’s office has stated that they intend to escalate their complaint regarding the judges’ decision to the Cámara de Casación. Additionally, they are awaiting a response to a separate appeal concerning a drug facilitation charge against Roger Nores.

Background Context

Earlier, in mid-February, Argentina’s Court of Appeals announced the dropping of charges against Nores, Martin, and Grassi. As the case continues to unfold, two men—Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz—remain incarcerated, accused of supplying drugs to Payne.

This update follows a recent investigation by Rolling Stone, which delved into the circumstances surrounding Payne’s death, including a statement from his former fiancée, Maya Henry. Liam Payne tragically passed away in mid-October, following a fall from a balcony at the CasaSur Palermo hotel.