When Liam Payne died last October, the tragedy sent shockwaves around the world.
The 31-year-old One Direction star fell from the balcony of his third-floor room at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Shortly after his death, Liam’s friend Roger Nores and four others were initially charged with negligent manslaughter.
In February, a court cleared Roger and two employees of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel – where the singer died – of any wrongdoing. Two other individuals remain detained and awaiting trial over accusations they provided Liam with cocaine.
Following his charge being dropped, Roger 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.’
In his first TV interview, Roger said, ‘As a close friend, I learnt with him that when someone has a drug problem, you do what you can and have the talks you need to have, but at the end of the day it’s their decision.
‘When a tragedy like this happens and a close friend dies, part of the grieving process is getting angry and asking why they did it. The answer is they couldn't help it, and they did everything they could, to be ok.
‘Obviously, he was trying to do everything he could to be ok. Sometimes you think, “If I had this conversation with him, maybe it could have changed things.” But you can't change the past, you have to process it.’
To find out how Roger Nores met Liam Payne, read on.
Who is Roger Nores?
Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores is a 35-year-old businessman from Argentina.
He founded his own investment company at the age of 23 and was previously the CEO of Stoneway Capital, a company specialising in energy infrastructure.
Roger made Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list in 2018.
When did Roger Nores meet Liam Payne?
It is reported that Liam and Roger first met in 2020 at a house party in London hosted by the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful.
Liam became close friends with Roger, with the singer and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy moving into a mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, owned by Roger shortly before his death.
Roger and his girlfriend joined Liam and Kate at a concert by his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan in Argentina just days before Liam died.
When did Liam Payne die?
Liam Payne died on 16 October 2024 at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He fell from the balcony of a third-floor hotel room with forensic experts explaining he had 25 injuries which contributed to his passing, including traumatic brain injuries which were ‘enough to cause death’.
What charges were brought against Roger Nores?
Roger Nores was one of five people with charges brought against them in the wake of Liam Payne’s death.
Roger was charged with negligent manslaughter in December, but the charge was dropped in February.
His lawyer, Rafael Cuneo Libarona, said he was ‘happy to have reversed the decision’.
He added, ‘We have always maintained that Rogelio Nores was not responsible for Liam Payne's death.
‘He was only his friend and had no duty or legal obligation to ensure his safety.’
Samuel McManus is a senior content creator for Bauer Media, writing celebrity news and features across five of the company’s brands – heat, Closer, Grazia, Bella and Yours. Samuel has worked at Bauer Media since November 2024.