People charged over Liam Payne's death are set to fight their claims today [11 February].
Lawyers representing Liam's friend Rogelio Nores and two people who worked at the hotel alongside him have been accused of manslaughter and will attempt to overturn judge Laura Bruniards's decision to indict them. A trial is expected later this year.
The lawyers are due to contest pre-trial incarceration which was set in place last month following their arrests. The hearing was originally set to take place on 10 February at Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Court in Buenos Aires, but was pushed back a day following the judicial recess in the South American country.
Appeal judges are not expected to make immediate decisions but legal sources said they hoped the rulings would be announced before the week is over.
Rafael Cuneo Libarona is working to support the argument that Rogelio was never Liam's manager or "guarantor," which judge Bruniard described him has when he was charged.
Libarona told an Argentine news website in January: "My client is not a manager, he is not a nurse, he is not a psychologist, nor a psychiatrist, nor is he dedicated to the recovery of addicts. He is a simple friend in Argentina who helps him in his business affairs."
The other people fighting their indictments are Esteban Grassi, who worked as the chief receptionist as CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires who made a call to emergency services before Liam died, and the hotel's head of security Gilda Martin. Grassi was allegedly one of the three men identified in the last photo taken of Liam Payne which showed him being carried up to his room from the reception of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
Two other suspects, a waiter and a hotel worker, are appealing Brunaird's decision to remand them in prison after they were charged with selling cocaine to the former One Direction singer. They could face prison sentences between four and 15 years if convicted.
Judge Bruniard accused Nores, who is currently banned from leaving Argentina due to his charges, of "failing in his duty of care, assistance and help" toward Payne.
The judge alleged that Nores "abandoned him to his fate, knowing he couldn’t fend for himself, aware he suffered multiple additions to alcohol and cocaine and fully conscious of the state of intoxication, vulnerably and defenceless he was in."
Nores released a statement shortly after it was revealed that he was being officially investigated before being charged: "I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel three times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened."
"There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could have never imagined something like this would happen."
"I’ve given my statement to the prosecutor on October 17 as a witness and I haven't spoken to any police officer or prosecutor ever since. I wasn't Liam's manager. He was just my very dear friend."
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