Who is Roger Nores? Argentine businessman sues Liam Payne's father in $10 million defamation case
Roger Nores, one of the five suspects linked to Liam Payne's death in October 2024, has sued the late British singer's father for defamation. Also known as Rogelio Nores, he is a 35-year-old Argentinian businessman who was featured in Forbes' 30 under 20 list in 2018. Nores was a friend of Payne's and was with the singer in Argentina hours before his fatal fall from the third floor of the Palermo hotel where he was staying.
On January 15, Nores filed a legal complaint in Florida, accusing Payne's father, Geoff Payne, of making "false" declarations to Argentinian officials against him. He claimed that Payne's father's sworn statements "contained material omissions, and many parts were not based on personal knowledge."
So far, five people have been charged in connection with Payne's death, including Roger Nores, who faces manslaughter charges for allegedly "failing to fulfill his duties of care, assistance, and help" towards Payne. The prosecutors accused him during the December 27, 2024, ruling of abandoning Payne to his luck "knowing that he was incapable of fending for himself and knowing that he [Payne] suffered from multiple addictions."
Nores has denied abandoning the late British singer before his death, telling Daily Mail UK on November 7, 2024, that he "never abandoned Liam." He claimed that he left the former One Direction singer "40 minutes" before his fatal fall "with over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him."
Roger Nores disputes allegations in his $10 million defamation case against Liam Payne's father
Liam Payne's father famously told authorities, in a statement that has since circulated in the press, that his son was in Roger Nores' care "due to his addictions." However, in his filing, Nores clarified that he "never had a legal duty of care" towards Liam Payne, contradicting the allegations that the singer was under his and Kate Cassidy's care because of his addictions.
Nores further claimed in the filing that Geoff had direct contact with the late pop star via his phone, laptop, and bodyguard. He alleged that he had asked Geoff to fly from England to Liam's home in Wellington, Florida, to help care for him. However, Geoff allegedly declined.
Roger Nores also disputed other allegations made by Geoff Payne in his sworn statement, including the claim that he, along with Nores and Bledar Vata, Liam Payne's bodyguard, "formed a team," to help with his son's recovery. According to Nores, he and Liam were just "dear friends" and his help towards the singer was simply "friend support." As reported by Page Six, the complaint further alleges:
"Defendant Geoff had all medical details available to him and if he did not retain the medical details it was Defendant Geoff's choice."
In the complaint, Nores alleged that Geoff Payne told the authorities that Nores "had full responsibility of Liam's care during his last period." It also noted Geoff's allegations that he supposedly accompanied the singer to a second psychiatrist and that they both hid Payne's drug addiction problems to receive psychiatric medication, which Nores vehemently denied.
He claimed in the complaint that he and the 1D singer "never visited 'another psychiatrist' together," further calling Geoff Payne's sworn statement "100 percent fiction."
Roger Nores confirmed to Page Six that the $10 million proceeds from his lawsuit against Geoff Payne will go to Liam Payne's son with Cheryl, Bear, as stated in the filing.
