Liam Payne, pictured here during a performance, tragically passed away at the age of 31, leaving fans and loved ones devastated Credit : Shutterstock, Pic Media Aus

Roger Nores, charged with manslaughter, claims defamation

Geoff Payne, the father of former One Direction star Liam Payne, is facing a $10 million defamation lawsuit filed by Roger Nores, a close acquaintance of the late singer. Nores, who has been charged with manslaughter in connection with Liam’s untimely death, says Geoff’s statements to investigators have unfairly implicated him and damaged his reputation.

Roger Nores rejects blame in Liam Payne’s tragic death

The lawsuit, filed in Florida, claims Geoff Payne made ‘false and defamatory’ statements that led to Nores being charged with negligent homicide. Nores, an Argentinian businessman, was among the last people to see Liam alive before his tragic fall from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last October.

Nores argues he was unfairly portrayed as being responsible for Liam’s care, a role he insists he never took on. He denies allegations that he lied to a psychiatrist to obtain medication for Liam or acted as a caretaker for the singer, calling such claims “100 per cent fiction.”

In the lawsuit, Nores claims these statements caused ‘irreparable damage’ to his reputation and led directly to his arrest in Argentina, where he has been accused of failing to protect Liam, who struggled with addiction. Despite the charges, Nores has maintained that Liam was in good spirits when they last spoke.

Tragic final moments: The untold story of Liam Payne’s death

Liam Payne’s tragic death on October 16 shocked fans worldwide. The 31-year-old fell from a balcony at the Casa Sur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires while in Argentina to renew his US visa. Toxicology reports revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and prescribed antidepressants in his system at the time of his death.

Witnesses reported erratic behaviour in Liam’s final hours, including an incident where he smashed his laptop and had to be carried back to his room. The autopsy confirmed the cause of death as external bleeding and multiple injuries sustained in the fall.

The tragedy has led to a wider investigation involving several people, including hotel staff. Two employees face charges of supplying drugs to the singer, while the hotel managers have been charged with manslaughter.

Nores, meanwhile, has promised to donate any financial proceeds from his lawsuit to Liam’s son, Bear. However, he insists the damage to his reputation cannot be undone, urging Geoff Payne to retract his statements.

Liam Payne’s family copes with loss amid ongoing legal battle

Liam’s death left his family, friends, and fans devastated. His funeral, held in November in his hometown of Amersham, brought together loved ones and his former bandmates to say a final goodbye.

Now, as legal battles unfold, the pain of his loss is compounded by the accusations and fallout surrounding those closest to him. It’s a tragic chapter in the life of a star whose struggles, and ultimately his death, have left a lasting mark.