Liam Payne’s Friend Breaks Silence After Shocking Twist in Manslaughter Case
Rogelio “Roger” Nores, a close friend of Liam Payne, has expressed relief after manslaughter charges against him were officially dropped.
Nores, along with two hotel workers, was charged in December—two months after the One Direction star tragically fell to his death in Buenos Aires at the age of 31. However, on Wednesday (Feb. 18), an appeals court overturned the charges against all three men.
Two other individuals, Braian Nahuel Paiz and Ezequiel David Pereya, remain in prison, accused of selling Payne cocaine before his death. They still face prosecution and could be sentenced to between four and 15 years if convicted.
Following the court’s decision, Nores told Rolling Stone, “Glad this is finally over. I’m happy I’m now going to be able to travel to the UK and say goodbye to my friend.”
His lawyer, Rafael Cueno Liberona, welcomed the ruling, stating, “We have always maintained that Rogelio Nores was not responsible for Liam Payne’s death. He was his only friend and had no duty or legal obligation to ensure his safety.”
Hotel employees Gilda Martin (head of security) and Esteban Grassi (chief receptionist), who also faced potential charges, were cleared as well. Prosecutors can still appeal the decision, though they have not yet indicated whether they will do so.
Nores’s alleged role as Payne’s manager played a key factor in the original charges, though he has repeatedly denied the claim.
“I never abandoned Liam,” Nores previously stated. “I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened. There were over 15 people in the lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could never have imagined something like this would happen.”
“I wasn’t Liam’s manager,” he added. “He was just my very dear friend.”
Liam Payne’s Friend Sues Singer’s Father for Defamation After Charges Dropped
Rogelio “Roger” Nores has filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Liam Payne’s father, Geoff Payne, accusing him of making false statements that led to his arrest.
Nores claims Geoff Payne provided “misleading, false, and defamatory” sworn declarations to authorities, alleging that Nores was part of a “care group” responsible for Liam’s well-being because he “could not be left alone in his vulnerable position.”
In the lawsuit, filed in Palm Beach, Florida, Nores insists he was simply a “mutual dear friend” of the One Direction star, not a caretaker. “Geoff needs to backtrack on his statement,” Nores told Rolling Stone. “I wasn’t Liam’s nurse or caretaker. Liam, who I miss every day, was my dear friend—an independent, brilliant, respectful free man who did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.”
Nores also revealed that if he wins the case, all proceeds will go to Payne’s son, Bear, whom the singer shared with Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy.