Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer, died in a hotel room at CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Argentina last October. His friend Roger Nores was initially shown a first-floor room that he “liked a lot” before the singer checked into a third-floor suite where he fell to his death after heavy drinking and drug use.
Hotel managers told Nores they were fully booked but assured him they would accommodate Liam, who ended up staying in a different room two floors above. An internal hotel memo has revealed that the lack of availability may have led to Liam being placed in a room 45ft above the restaurant terrace, significantly increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Nores, one of three men charged with manslaughter over Liam’s death, had previously denied being his manager, but a court document shows he was referred to as such in an email memo. Nores claimed he left the hotel twice that day and had left 40 minutes before the incident. He stated that there were over 15 people at the lobby when he left.
Argentinian prosecutors have criticized the hotel management for moving Liam from the lobby to his third-floor room, stating it created a “legally unacceptable risk” to his life. Nores and the hotel management face prison sentences ranging from one to five years if convicted. Two other suspects, a waiter and a suspended hotel worker, have been charged with selling cocaine to Liam and could face prison sentences of four to 15 years.
Nores’ solicitor has rejected claims that he had any part in drug sales, stating his client gave an extensive statement detailing their interactions with Liam. The court case continues, with Nores claiming his friendship with Liam was purely based on companionship and not a managerial role.
Source: https://www.irishstar.com/culture/entertainment/liam-payne-hotel-room-change-34438521