Rogelio “Roger” Nores, a close friend of Liam Payne and one of the last people to see the former One Direction singer alive, believes that Payne’s death resulted from an “extremely unfortunate” series of events. Payne fell to his death from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October, where he was staying, local police told CNN at the time. He was 31 years old. Five individuals were charged in connection with Payne’s death in January, according to local prosecutors. Nores was among those charged, but his charges, along with those of two others, have since been dismissed. A hotel employee and a local waiter were detained on charges related to supplying Payne with cocaine during his hotel stay. Nores told CNN en Español’s Cecilia Dominguez in an interview on Tuesday that when he left Payne about an hour before his fall, “he was doing okay, he was being Liam.” Nores never imagined that Payne would die that day. “It was very hard to see it coming,” he said. Nores and Payne had traveled to Buenos Aires together for what he described as a personal trip, and so Payne could attend his former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert.
Ad Feedback “He was just a guy who enjoyed life, and he liked traveling to places and seeing people, and honestly, he was happy. It’s not like he was sad or depressed,” Nores said. “What happened was extremely unfortunate.” The two, along with Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, spent time together having fun and doing “normal” activities like bowling and seeing movies, Nores said. Payne “had stayed sober” during the trip, according to Nores. Days before Payne’s fall, Cassidy left Buenos Aires to return home.
Related article Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy opens up about their relationship and his final days. Prior to Payne’s death, someone provided him with drugs, Nores said. It was later determined that the singer had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system before his death, according to Argentinian prosecutors. “I don’t think the drugs killed him,” Nores said. “I think this was really unfortunate and a proper accident.” Nores and Payne met in 2020 and quickly developed a close friendship. Now, he says he is focused on moving forward in grieving Payne, whom he described as “one of the best friends I ever had in my life.” Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores, friend of Liam Payne, speaking with CNNE’s Cecilia Dominguez on Tuesday in Buenas Aires. CNNE Ongoing investigation An investigation into Payne’
