In a startling development amidst the tragic ongoing investigation into the death of Liam Payne, Roger Nores, a close friend of the late One Direction star, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Geoff Payne, Liam's father. This legal action comes as a response to statements allegedly made by Geoff to Argentine authorities regarding the circumstances surrounding his son's death.
Liam Payne passed away at the young age of 31 due to "multiple trauma" and "internal and external hemorrhage," resulting from a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Following the incident, five individuals, including Nores, faced charges related to his death, with Argentine prosecutors alleging that Nores "abandoned" Liam and neglected his duty of care.
In the legal complaint lodged in Florida on Wednesday, Nores asserts that Geoff Payne issued "false" declarations to Argentine officials that included misleading information and omissions not based on personal knowledge. The statements purported that Liam was under the care of his girlfriend Kate Cassidy and Nores due to his alleged addictions. In reaction, Nores insists that his relationship with Liam was one of an affectionate friendship and maintained that he never had a legal obligation to care for him.
The suit highlights that Liam was an autonomous adult who made his own choices, and thus, Nores argues he was not responsible for Liam’s well-being. He claims that the statements from Geoff Payne, disseminated to the media, have inflicted severe damage to his reputation.
Moreover, the lawsuit mentions that any financial proceeds derived from it will be donated to Bear, the son of Liam Payne and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole. Cheryl was one of many celebrities who commemorated Liam's life at his star-studded funeral in November, which was attended by his former bandmates from One Direction.
As the UK inquest into Liam's untimely death is set for a pre-inquest review on November 6, the Press Association is reaching out to both Roger Nores and Geoff Payne for their comments on this unfolding situation.
