Five suspects being investigated over Liam Payne’s death are due to learn if they will be prosecuted early in the New Year.
They were questioned after the late One Direction singer fell to his death aged 31 on 16 October from the third-floor balcony of his room at the Casa Sur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It’s now emerged Judge Laura Bruniard has 10 days after quizzing them to decide whether the suspects should face charges as part of an ongoing criminal investigation – or if the case against them should be closed.
Two hotel employees last week became the latest of the five men now under investigation in connect with Liam’s death, and they are set to be questioned on Zoom interrogations next week.
Identities of the original three suspects have not been revealed and it is thought by the time the judge makes her decision on whether to charge any of them she will have received expert reports addressing the analysis of mobile phones and computers belonging to the suspects and witnesses.
Missing CCTV footage that could show the moment Liam hit his head on the concrete base of a sunshade on a restaurant terrace underneath his room may also be recovered and make up part of the investigation, according to reports.
On 7 November, a report from the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office found traces of alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants had been found in Liam's system.
Officials have ruled out suicide, saying in the “state” the singer was in, he “did not know what he was doing and could not understand it”.
It was recently reported Liam’s former One Direction bandmates were planning to get the band back together before his death.
A source told Us Weekly Liam, Harry Styles, 30, Zayn Malik, 31, Niall Horan, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, had been “in talks to do one last reunion show”.
The insider added even though the idea has now been put on hold a comeback may still be possible – but only in memory of Liam.
They said: “The guys would love to do a tribute to Liam. They’re all so devastated right now they can’t even think about that as a legitimate project, but it has been discussed.”
