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Liam Payne’s close friend Rogelio “Roger” Nores is suing the later singer’s father, Geoff Payne, for defamation after being charged with manslaughter for his death.
The Argentinian businessman alleges in the lawsuit filed in Florida Wednesday and obtained by Page Six that Geoff made sworn statements about him that were “false, contained material omissions, and many parts were not based on personal knowledge” and have since circulated via the press.
Geoff told authorities that Liam was in Nores’ care “due to his addictions,” but the latter denies in the complaint he ever had a legal duty to care for the troubled pop star.
Nores claims that Geoff was able to have direct contact with his son via Liam’s phone, laptop or bodyguard.
Nores alleges that Geoff Payne, seen here on the right on Oct. 18, made sworn statements about him that were “false, contained material omissions, and many parts were not based on personal knowledge.” AP Liam died Oct. 16 at age 31 after falling off the balcony of his hotel room while under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs. Instagram/kateecassHe also alleges in the suit that in September 2024, a month before Liam passed, he asked Geoff to fly from England to Wellington, Fla., where his son was residing, to help care for him — but declined to do so.
Page Six reached out to Geoff and Liam’s estate reps for comment but did not immediately hear back.
However, per the suit, the father claimed in a sworn statement that he — along with Nores and the bodyguard, Bledar Vata — “formed a team” for his son’s “recovery” that was “monitored” by doctors.
Nores also denies these allegations, adding that he and Liam were just “dear friends and provided each other friend support.”
Geoff previously claimed to cops that Nores was fully in charge of Liam’s health amid his struggles with drug addiction. Getty Images Nores denied these allegations, adding that he and Liam were just “dear friends and provided each other friend support.” Courtesy of Rogelio 'Roger' Nores.“Defendant Geoff had all medical details available to him and if he did not retain the medical details it was Defendant Geoff’s choice,” the complaint further alleges.
Geoff also claimed to authorities that, around September 2024, Liam was dropped by a psychiatrist named Dr. Rohaidy, prompting him and Nores to see a separate doctor who would provide meds.
“Liam went to see another psychiatrist with Rogelio Nores, and both hid from him the problems with
alcohol and drugs that Liam had in order for him to prescribe psychiatric medication and avoid giving him the care recommendations,” the father alleged.
Vata, the bodyguard, was reportedly fired after this incident because he told the second psychiatrist the truth about Liam’s addiction history.
Nores, seen here on the right, claimed that “Defendant Geoff’s sworn statement is 100 percent fiction.” SnapChat Geoff also claimed that Liam, through Nores, obtained psychiatric medication from a psychiatrist. Instagram/@liampayne“What I want to make clear is that Roger had full responsibility for Liam’s care during this last period when at least I was not there, because that is how he assumed it when he called him by his own means to help him in his treatment,” Geoff added to authorities, per the complaint.
“In fact, it was Roger himself who decided to accompany Liam on his last stay in Buenos Aires as part of all this care he needed. Care of which Roger was well aware.”
Nores emphatically denies these allegations as well, claiming that he and the “Night Changes” singer “never visited ‘another psychiatrist’ together …[and] never have hid any information from the non-existent medical person.” He adds, “Defendant Geoff’s sworn statement is 100 percent fiction.”
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Since Geoff’s sworn statements were made, Nores has been accused of abandonment, which is a crime in Argentina, for allegedly failing to inform Liam’s family the singer had relapsed while in Buenos Aires.
Liam fell from a third-story balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on Oct. 16, 2024, after consuming alcohol and several illegal drugs.
Nores was with him leading up to his final hours, but claims he left him in a good state, noting last November, “There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left.”
Aside from the businessman, hotel manager Gilda Martin and receptionist Esteban Grassi, who placed the harrowing 911 call moments before Liam died, have also been charged with manslaughter.
Two more hotel employees, Braian Paiz and Ezequiel Pereyra, have been charged with supplying drugs to the former One Direction member. They are currently in police custody but have denied wrongdoing.
Nores claimed he tried to contact Geoff before filing the suit for a retraction on his remarks. LDN PIX / BACKGRID Aside from Nores, four other people have been charged in Liam’s death. GC ImagesNores tells Page Six that all the proceeds from his lawsuit against Geoff will go to Liam’s son, Bear.
“Geoff needs to backtrack on his sworn statement as he very well knows I wasn’t Liam’s nurse or care taker,” he says. “Liam, who I miss every day, was my dear friend and an independent, brilliant, respectful free man who did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.”
Nores adds to Page Six exclusively that he tried to contact Geoff before filing the suit for a retraction of his remarks.
“He doesn’t seem to acknowledge the harm he has done,” the businessman concludes. “He literally went to the local federal prosecutor and told them all the stuff you see in there + a really strong statement saying everything is Roger’s fault and responsibility.”
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
