Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
One Direction star took cocaine, alcohol, antidepressant before death
British singer-songwriter Liam Payne poses on the red carpet on arrival for the BRIT Awards 2019 in London on February 20, 2019. (Photo: AFP)
International News, Latest News
November 7, 2024

One Direction star took cocaine, alcohol, antidepressant before death

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — One Direction star Liam Payne consumed cocaine, alcohol and a prescription antidepressant before falling to his death from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony last month, Argentine prosecutors said Thursday.

The prosecutor’s office added that three people were charged with supplying him with drugs and one of them was also charged with abandoning a person in a vulnerable state.

“The results of the toxicological studies, which have been communicated to his family, revealed that, in the moments prior to his death and over a period covering at least his last 72 hours, Payne had traces of polydrug use of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his body,” the prosecutors said.

Payne was found dead on October 16 after plunging from the balcony of his third-floor room at the CasaSur Hotel in the Argentine capital.

An autopsy found he died after sustaining “multiple traumas” and “internal and external hemorrhaging” from the fall.

One of the highest-grossing live acts in the world in the 2010s, One Direction went on indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Payne went on to enjoy a degree of solo success but his career had languished recently.

His death at age 31 prompted a global outpouring of grief and condolences from family, former bandmates, fans and others.

Prosecutors said one of the three people charged in the case had accompanied him on a daily basis during his stay in Buenos Aires and was charged with abandoning a person who later died as well as supplying him with narcotics.

The second suspect is a hotel employee accused of twice supplying Payne with cocaine while he was staying at the CasaSur. A third person is also accused of supplying him with the drug on October 14, two days before his death.

The prosecution ruled out self-harm and the “physical intervention of third parties” as the cause of Payne’s death, saying that the injuries he sustained were compatible with those caused by a fall.

“Payne was either not fully conscious or was in a state of markedly diminished or absent consciousness at the time of the fall,” the report said.

He was found dead after hotel staff called emergency services to report “a guest who is overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol, and destroying his room”.

The toxicological report was published a day after the singer’s father Geoff Payne repatriated his body to Britain aboard a flight from Buenos Aires to London.

Payne’s death has prompted a debate about whether the music industry has a duty of care for the mental health of stars who find fame at a young age.

The singer from Wolverhampton in central England had spoken publicly about struggles with substance abuse and the pressures of teenage stardom.

He first auditioned for the hugely popular television talent show “The X Factor” at the age of 14 but was unsuccessful.

Two years later he hit gold on the program, which teamed him up with Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik to form One Direction.

Over the next six years, the group enjoyed global fame and legions of screaming fans, selling more than 70 million copies of their five albums. They went on four world tours and won nearly 200 awards.

Payne is survived by a seven-year-old boy, Bear, with Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy.

Tags:

Argentina Britain Entertainment Liam Payne music
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

WATCH: Curacao Football Federation president says his team is on the verge of ‘history’
Latest News, Sports
WATCH: Curacao Football Federation president says his team is on the verge of ‘history’
November 17, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Curaçao Football Federation President Gilbert Martina says his team is on the verge of history as they gear up for their World Cup...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Haitian gangs getting rich off murky market for baby eels
International News, Latest News, Regional
Haitian gangs getting rich off murky market for baby eels
November 17, 2025
UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — Gangs in Haiti are profiting from a lucrative trade in baby eels caught in the crime-ridden country's rivers and...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Ministry ramps up measures to assist persons to safeguard their health
Latest News, News
Ministry ramps up measures to assist persons to safeguard their health
November 17, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Health and Wellness is ramping up measures to help the public safeguard their health by promoting safe water and f...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Fontana Pharmacy sets $10 million goal for Hurricane Melissa fundraising campaign
Latest News, News
Fontana Pharmacy sets $10 million goal for Hurricane Melissa fundraising campaign
November 17, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — In light of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, Fontana Pharmacy, through the Fontana Foundation, has launched a $10 mill...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
WATCH: Sport minister confident in Reggae Boyz ahead of World Cup qualifier
Latest News, Sports
WATCH: Sport minister confident in Reggae Boyz ahead of World Cup qualifier
November 17, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Sport Minister Olivia Grange is expressing confidence in the Reggae Boyz ahead of what could be one of the most important days in ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Discovery Bauxite providing water for thousands post Hurricane Melissa
Latest News, News
Discovery Bauxite providing water for thousands post Hurricane Melissa
November 17, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Discovery Bauxite’s water wells in Discovery Bay have become a key resource during the ongoing hurricane recovery period, providin...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Venezuela woman jailed 30 years for criticizing Maduro in WhatsApp message
International News, Latest News
Venezuela woman jailed 30 years for criticizing Maduro in WhatsApp message
November 17, 2025
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — A Venezuelan court has sentenced a doctor to 30 years in prison for criticising Nicolas Maduro's government in a WhatsApp a...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Diaspora group ships 50 barrels of relief supplies to Jamaica
Latest News, News
Diaspora group ships 50 barrels of relief supplies to Jamaica
BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer senior writer 
November 17, 2025
Over 50 barrels containing relief items intended for people affected by Hurricane Melissa were recently shipped to Jamaica courtesy of the Jamaica Str...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct