Argentinian authorities have charged three individuals in connection with the tragic death of former One Direction star Liam Payne, who passed away on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.

One of Payne’s companions has been charged with abandonment leading to death, as well as drug supply and facilitation, according to the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office. Additionally, a hotel staff member and another individual face charges related to drug supply. The identities of those charged have not been disclosed.

Payne, 31, was a household name in pop music, known widely for his rise to fame on The X Factor and his success with One Direction in the 2010s. The Argentinian investigation has been closely examining Payne’s last days at the CasaSur hotel, where police reportedly discovered drugs, broken items, and furniture in his room.

Emergency calls from hotel staff indicated they had a guest who had consumed “excessive drugs and alcohol” and was “destroying the room.”

On Thursday, toxicology results revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and an antidepressant in Payne's system. His cause of death was determined to be “multiple trauma” and “internal and external haemorrhaging” caused by the fall. Medical evaluations suggest Payne may have been in a semi- or fully unconscious state when he fell, ruling out the likelihood of a deliberate act, as he was likely unaware of his actions.

Authorities have also conducted nine raids across Buenos Aires, examined Payne’s damaged laptop and other devices, and reviewed more than 800 hours of footage from security cameras in and around the hotel.

They’ve also gathered testimony from numerous individuals, including hotel staff, family, friends, and medical personnel.

Following his death, Payne’s body was released to his family to be brought back to the UK. The news led to an outpouring of tributes from fans and friends, with former partner Cheryl, One Direction members Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Harry Styles expressing their heartbreak in a joint statement, saying they were “devastated” and would forever cherish the memories they shared with him.

Thousands of fans held memorial events worldwide to honour the beloved singer.