I’ll drop £8.1m suit against Liam Payne’s dad on one condition says his controversial pal as he reveals last words
Liam’s final chaotic hours before his tragic death have been revealed in new court documents
LIAM Payne’s close pal Roger Nores breathed a huge sigh of relief this week after having his manslaughter charge over the singer’s death dropped.
But in another unedifying twist in the tragedy, the US-Argentine businessman has vowed to continue his £8.1 million defamation lawsuit against Liam’s grieving dad Geoff.
6
Liam Payne tragically died in October last yearCredit: Getty
6
His friend Roger Nores recently had a manslaughter charged against him dropped
6
But he’s insisted he still plans to sue Liam’s grieving father GeoffCredit: Getty
He even says he does not feel bad for doing so – and that he will only drop the claim once he gets an apology.
Roger, 35, filed the claim in the US in January suing Geoff for defamation – claiming he made “false” statements to investigators following Liam’s death in Argentina on October 16 last year.
Geoff is said to have told authorities that Roger was part of a “care group” for Liam – who “could not be left alone in the vulnerable position in which he was”.
Roger had seen One Direction star Liam, 31, three times on the day he fell 45ft from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires.
He left Liam at the hotel around 40 minutes before he fell – and in December he was charged with manslaughter, accused of being negligent by leaving his friend.
But on Wednesday, Roger and two others – the hotel’s chief receptionist Esteban Grassi and its security boss Gilda Martin – had their raps dropped following an appeal.
Now Roger is insistent on pursuing his case against Geoff – despite the pain he is suffering after losing his son.
Asked if he feels bad about doing so, he told The Sun: “So the answer is: no, definitely not. I don’t feel bad.
“Geoff is a good person, right, and he was going through a lot… and it’s a human reaction and is understandable.
“Imagine losing a child? Whatever I went through, losing a friend, he probably went through something that is like a million times worse.
Up Next
‘Devastated’ Simon Cowell ‘sobbed uncontrollably’ on day Liam Payne died and considered One Direction ‘his babies’
Remembering Liam: One Direction’s Heartfelt Tribute
“So you can never judge a person.
“But obviously, one thing is because you are angry with what happened and you want to blame someone, because deep down you blame yourself.
“That’s a reality that happens to all of us.
“We all – all the people that were around Liam – we blame ourselves.
“I blame myself. I find myself walking down the street and going, ‘I never told him this… maybe if I had a conversation, he would’ve changed or this would’ve helped him’.
“So we all feel guilty, and we all blame ourselves.
“But obviously what happened to Geoff is, he came here after his son had passed away… he was talking to a prosecutor then he went like this: ‘Oh, Roger’s responsibility, he was supposed to be his caretaker’.
“So the lawsuit’s here until they apologise and then I think, hopefully, we can all put this behind us and continue leading our lives and say goodbye to Liam without fighting with each other.”
Roger said he “100 per cent” will not drop the case until he gets a sorry, adding: “I’m sure I’ll get one.”
Roger and Liam became pals in 2020 after meeting at a party hosted by former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful in London.
They hit it off, spending a lot of time together in the US.
Roger was reported to have been Liam’s manager at one point – something he has always denied.
In his final days, Liam went to see his old One Direction bandmate Niall Horan in concert in Argentina along with Roger.
Tributes to Liam Payne
SHOCKED fans, former co-workers, loved ones and friends flooded social media with sad tributes to Liam Payne after news of his death emerged.
Harry Styles’ mum Anne was among the first from One Direction’s camp to share her reaction, posting a photo of Liam and writing ‘Just a boy…’ alongside a broken heart emoji.
Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden shared an image of the pair together with the words: “Such an awful tragedy.
“Sending love to his family and all those who loved him.”
X Factor star Olly Murs told fans he was “devastated” and “lost for words”.
He wrote on social media: “Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I’m truly gutted and devastated for his Family and of course his son Bear losing a dad x”.
Liam Gallagher said he was “very sad” and told his followers on X: “Life is precious Kids, you only get to do it once, go easy.”
Former X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary has also expressed his shock and spoke on This Morning.
He said: “I remember him as a 14 year old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.
“He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble.”
BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball reacted to the “devastating news” on her show and told fans she hugged her own son Woody tight this morning.
JLS band member Marvin Humes reflected on his memories with the singer, sharing: “I first met Liam in 2008 with the JLS boys whilst auditioning for X Factor..he was 14 years old..
“We instantly clicked and looked at him as a little brother..that year it worked out for us but not for him and then 2 years later he went back to audition and One Direction was born..the rest is history..
“Absolutely heartbroken by the tragic news..Liam you wanted to be a global superstar and you did it bro..just can’t believe that things have ended this way..it’s shocking..my thoughts and prayers are with all your family and friends brother..RIP.”
Niall Horan’s brother Greg shared an emotional tribute to Liam, praising him as a “top young man”.
He added: “You will be forever missed. Liam, words can’t describe how much I want to grab my brother and mind him now while the world shows their memories of you and him and the boys.
“My heart goes out to your family parents and sisters and your son Bear and your 1D brothers.
“10th October we met and we started out that evening as 5 families into one big one 1D family thank you for all the laughs bro watch down on all your family and mind them lots of love kiddo x x x 1D 4 LIFE x x x”
German DJ Anton Zaslavski, otherwise known as Zedd, has taken to X with a devastated statement.
The producer, who worked with Liam on his 2017 hit Get Low, wrote: “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real…absolutely heartbreaking…”
American singer, Charlie Puth, who was friends with Liam and also collaborated with him on a song called Bedroom Floor, has posted a series of Instagram stories dedicated to him.
Alongside photos of the two of them together in their younger days, Charlie wrote: “I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me.
“He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone…
“I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace. I am so sorry…”
Irish singer duo Jedward also took to social media, saying: “RIP Liam Payne. Condolences to friends and family.”
In another tweet, they added: “Sending strength to Cheryl and his son Bear. And all the One direction Family. RIP Liam Payne.”
American media personality Paris Hilton shared: “So upsetting to hear the news of Liam Payne passing. Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend.”
ITV weather presenter Alex Beresford shared a news video about Liam’s tragic death on Instagram, adding: “Can’t believe this! RIP Liam.”
Meanwhile Love Island star Molly Marsh penned: “I’m so taken aback, rest in peace.”
James Cordon also paid his own tribute, describing the star as a “loving and kind soul”.
The Gavin and Stacey actor wrote on Instagram: “Talking about Liam in the past tense is utterly heart-breaking.
“I will treasure the moments I got to spend with him. My thoughts are with his family today x.”
Payne previously appeared on Cordon’s The Late Late Show in America.
Former Little Mix star Jade Thirwall – who won X Factor with her bandmates one year after One Direction took part – described him as “the first friend I made in this industry”.
She said: “We fell out of touch as the years went by, but back in 2008 he was the first friend I made in this industry.
“Both of us so young, so ambitious, both hoping we’d ‘make it’. I hope you are at peace now”.
Camila Cabello described his death as a “tragedy” and said he “made an impression” on her when she was a young girl.
Roger last spoke to Geoff on the day Liam died – and he was reportedly “not welcome” at Liam’s funeral in the UK in November.
Liam’s old One Direction bandmates Niall, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik were among those who gathered to say a final farewell.
Roger, speaking from Buenos Aires, said: “Honestly, I don’t even want to talk about it. It wasn’t a great day.
“I haven’t yet processed my emotions to be honest. I’m still trying to trick myself into thinking that he’s still there somewhere and I just haven’t seen him in a while.
“That’s how I cope with death. That’s my own way of grieving.”
Roger’s charge was dropped by three appeal judges – but two other men, waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz, 24, and hotel worker Ezequiel David Pereyra, 21 – lost their bids to have their raps of supplying drugs to Liam dropped.
Following the appeal, a 35-page court document revealed fresh details about Liam’s final hours.
He is said to have had a threesome with two prostitutes who say they saw him inhaling a “crystal-like” drug in his hotel room.
The papers state Liam contacted Aldana Serrano, 31, and Lucila Goitea, 27, on a website for sex workers.
6
Toxicology tests showed Liam had alcohol and drugs including pink cocaine – a mixture of ketamine, MDMA and crystal meth – in his systemCredit: Getty
6
Roger says he has probably cried “500 times” thinking about what happenedCredit: Getty
6
Roger and Liam became pals in 2020 after meeting at a party
They are said to have spent two and a half hours with him from 11.30am, with Liam drinking whiskey and apparently asking them to get him more drugs.
Toxicology tests showed Liam had alcohol and drugs including pink cocaine – a mixture of ketamine, MDMA and crystal meth – in his system.
Roger said his last words to Liam that day were simply “I will see you in a bit” – to which Liam simply replied: “OK.”
He refuses to discuss details of what happened that day and speaks with little emotion in his voice when talking about anything to do with the tragedy.
But Roger says he has probably cried “500 times” thinking about what happened.
He said of being accused of manslaughter: “I knew – everybody knew – that I was gonna get cleared because everything was so ridiculous.
“I was never worried about the end result. I always knew it was gonna be fine.
“But when you look back, it was over in just four months, and there are a lot of people that go through a lot worse.”
After being charged, Roger was not allowed to leave Argentina.
He now wants to travel back to the US and eventually to the UK to say a proper goodbye to Liam.
Roger said: “Whenever I’m strong enough and brave enough I’m gonna head over to the UK and say goodbye to my friend.
“Liam and I, we clicked. I feel that we had a similar approach towards life. Neither of us took the world too seriously.
“We always liked having fun, even though we have really different styles – it’s well-documented that I don’t drink alcohol, I’ve never tried a drug in my life.
“We were able to communicate because Liam, underneath all of his problems, he was still an amazing person and he was always that person.
“It didn’t matter whether he was partying or having a proper workout in the gym, he was still the same person.
“It was honestly a privilege being able to spend that much time with him.
“I still think about stuff he said to me, like pieces of advice he gave me.
“He was really brilliant in so many ways. Not just on his music, not just on his art, but also logically brilliant.
“He was a guy who really understood people and really appreciated life.”
He added: “I feel like he helped me through a really rough time with my life and I think I was helping him as well.
“Obviously it ended up in a tragedy, but I feel like it was a great relationship.”
