BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Three people have been charged in connection with the death of Liam Payne, a former member of musical group One Direction who died after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires last month, Argentine prosecutors said Thursday.
Prosecutor Andrés Madrea charged the three suspects, whose identities were not revealed, with the crimes of “abandonment of a person followed by death” and “supplying and facilitating the use of narcotics,” the prosecutor’s office said. Madrea also requested their arrest to judge Laura Bruniard, who ruled the three cannot leave the country.
Payne fell from his room's balcony on the third floor of his hotel in the upscale neighborhood of Palermo, in the Argentine capital. His autopsy said he died from multiple injuries and external bleeding.
Prosecutors also said that Payne’s toxicological exams showed that his body had "traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescribed antidepressant” in the moments before his death.
Investigators said hours after Payne’s death that he was by himself when he fell. But the prosecutors' office said Thursday that one of the people charged was often with the singer during his time in Buenos Aires. The second is a hotel staffer who allegedly gave Payne cocaine during his stay between Oct. 13 and 16. And the third is a drug dealer.
The charges in Payne’s case bear some resemblance to the U.S. cases stemming from the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry a year ago. The actor’s personal assistant and a longtime friend are among those charged with helping supply him with ketamine in the final months of his life, leading up to his overdose on the anesthetic.
Three young men were similarly charged in the opioid-overdose death of rapper Mac Miller in 2018.
Local authorities gathered, among other pieces of evidence, Payne's cell phone records, material for forensics and testimonies. They are yet to unlock the singer’s personal computer – which is damaged – and other devices that were seized.
Payne’s autopsy showed his injuries were neither caused by self-harm nor by physical intervention of others. The document also said that he did not have the reflex of protecting himself in the fall, which suggests he might have been unconscious.
Prosecutors in Argentina also ruled out the chances of Payne committing suicide.
One Direction was among the most successful boy bands of recent times. It announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016 and Payne — like his former bandmates Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson — pursued a solo career.
The singer had posted on his Snapchat account that he traveled to Argentina to attend Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires on Oct. 2. He shared videos of himself dancing with his girlfriend, American influencer Kate Cassidy, and singing along in the stands. Cassidy had left Argentina after the show, but Payne stayed behind.
AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed from Los Angeles.
Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
A fan holds a message as fans gather to pay tribute to late British singer Liam Payne, former member of the British pop band One Direction in Treptower Park in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United secured its first win in Europe for more than a year by beating PAOK 2-0 in the Europa League on Thursday.
Two second-half goals from Amad Diallo sealed the victory at Old Trafford and boosted United's hopes of progressing in the competition, while Tottenham's 100% start was ended by a 3-2 loss at Galatasaray.
United's last win in Europe was against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Oct. 24 last year.
“We addressed that in the dressing room and it was time to change that, so we did,” United interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy said.
Diallo's looping header beat PAOK goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski in the 50th minute and he followed that up with a deflected shot from outside the area that nestled into the bottom corner in the 77th.
It's two wins from three games for United under Van Nistelrooy, who has one more match — against Leicester on Sunday — before handing over to Ruben Amorim.
It is not clear if there will be a role for the Dutchman after his temporary reign, but he is doing what he can to ensure that United is in the best possible position for when Amorim takes charge.
Erik ten Hag was fired last week after a woeful start to the campaign left the team in 14th place in the Premier League and without a win in Europe's secondary competition the Europa League.
Amorim was quickly hired in his place, but it has been left to Van Nistelrooy to fill the gap while the Portuguese serves a notice period at Sporting Lisbon.
He has delivered wins in the English League Cup and the Europa League either side of a draw with Chelsea in the league.
Earlier, Victor Osimhen scored twice in eight minutes to help Galatasaray beat Tottenham 3-2 in Turkey.
Osimhen scored his first goal in Europe for Galatasaray after his transfer from Napoli with a precise low shot inside the right post to give the host a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute and added his second eight minutes later by heading home a curled cross from the right by Dries Mertens.
It was Tottenham's first loss in the competition after three wins. Galatasaray remains unbeaten with three wins and a draw.
Every game on Thursday was preceded by a moment of silence to honor the victims of the devastating flooding in Spain.
In Istanbul, Yunus Akgün put Galatasary ahead in the sixth minute when Spurs failed to properly clear a free kick by Mertens and the midfielder volleyed home from outside the area past goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Tottenham equalized in the 19th minute through Will Lankshear, who made only his second senior appearance for the London club and netted from close range after a cross from Brennan Johnson. However, Lankshear was later sent off for a second yellow card on the hour mark.
Substitute Dominic Solanke pulled a goal back for Tottenham with a backheel finish in the 69th.
Lazio is the only team to maintain a perfect record with four wins after Pedro Rodríguez scored in injury time to secure a 2-1 victory over Porto.
Ajax had five different goal scorers in a 5-0 rout of Maccabi Tel-Aviv while three substitutes netted for Alkmaar in its 3-1 victory over Fenerbahce, the first loss of the competition for Jose Mourinho’s team.
Latvia’s RFS salvaged a 1-1 draw with Anderlecht with a stoppage-time equalizer as the Belgian side dropped points for the first time.
Earlier, Eintracht Frankfurt beat Slavia Prague 1-0 thanks to Omar Marmoush's second-half goal, while Roma was held to a 1-1 draw at Union Saint-Gilloise, another disappointing result after a 3-2 loss to Hellas Verona in Serie A over the weekend.
Rangers held last year’s Conference League champion Olympiacos to a 1-1 draw in Greece.
Athletic Bilbao beat Ludogorets 2-1 to stay unbeaten with three wins and a draw, while Qarabag upset Bodø/Glimt 3-1 in Norway to earn its first points.
Nice drew 2-2 with Twente with both teams finishing the game reduced to 10 men.
Chelsea demolished Armenian club Noah 8-0 to set a record for the biggest victory in the third-tier Conference League.
Chelsea took a 6-0 lead in the first half on two goals from João Félix, and one a piece from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi and Mykhailo Mudryk. Christopher Nkunku added two more in the second half, the second from the spot..
Nordsjaelland had the previous record, beating Ludogorets 7-1 last season.
Chelsea is one of six teams with three wins after three games.
Vitória beat Mladá Boleslav 2-1, Jagellonia defeated Molde 3-0 and Heidenheim won 2-0 at Hearts.
Earlier, Legia Warsaw routed Dinamo Minsk 4-0 and SK Rapid eased past Petrocub 3-0.
Karel Janicek in Prague contributed.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Fenerbahce's Youssef En-Nesyri scores his side's opening goal past AZ Alkmaar's goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro during the Europa League soccer match between AZ Alkmaar and Fenerbahce at the AFAS stadium, in Alkmaar, Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Maurice van Steen)
Fenerbahce's head coach Jose Mourinho, centre, follows the game during the Europa League soccer match between AZ Alkmaar and Fenerbahce at the AFAS stadium, in Alkmaar, Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Maurice van Steen)
Lazio players celebrate after a goal during the Europa League soccer match between Lazio and Porto at Rome's Olympic Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Olympiacos' Sergio Oliveira, left, jumps for the Baal among Rangers' Robin Proepper, centre and Connor Barron, right, during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Olympiacos and Rangers at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium at Athens' port of Piraeus, Greece, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Olympiacos' Rodinei, right, runs for the ball with Rangers' Cyriel Dessers during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Olympiacos and Rangers at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium at Athens' port of Piraeus, Greece, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Union SG's Kevin Mac Allister, center right, celebrates with teammate Union SG's Charles Vanhoutte after scoring his sides first goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Union SG and Roma at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Roma's Zeki Celik center rear, reacts during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Union SG and Roma at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Roma's Gianluca Mancini, left, makes an attempt on goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Union SG and Roma at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Prague's Tomas Holes, bottom, and Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush, top, challenge for the ball during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Slavia Prague in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)
Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Slavia Prague in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)
Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou watches during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Galatasaray and Tottenham Hotspur at Ali Sami Yen stadium, in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Tottenham's Will Lankshear, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Galatasaray and Tottenham Hotspur at Ali Sami Yen stadium, in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Galatasaray's Yunus Akgun , not seen in the picture scores his side's first goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Galatasaray and Tottenham Hotspur at Ali Sami Yen stadium, in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Galatasaray and Tottenham Hotspur at Ali Sami Yen stadium, in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Galatasaray and Tottenham Hotspur at Ali Sami Yen stadium, in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and PAOK at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's Amad Diallo, right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and PAOK at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's Amad Diallo, left, scores the opening goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and PAOK at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and PAOK at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Manchester United and PAOK at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
