Liam Payne’s funeral is expected to take place on Wednesday November 20 in the UK Home Counties, it’s been reported. The One Direction singer was 31 at the time of his heartbreaking death as he plunged from the third floor balcony of his hotel room in Argentina in October.
Last week officials in Argentina allowed the family of the late star to fly his body home ahead of his funeral, reports the Mirror. The late star’s father Geoff was also on the flight back to the UK along with Liam’s body, which was then reportedly transported to his hometown of Wolverhampton.
Last week, it was revealed three people have been charged in connection with the star’s death in Argentina. The public prosecutor’s office in the country confirmed htree people had been charged with “abandonment of a person followed by death” and supply and facilitation of narcotics in connection with Liam’s tragic passing.
One Direction bandmates of the late star – Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik – are to be be included on the list of attendees for the funeral. Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy is also thought to attend, along with Simon Cowell.
Liam’s dad had flown to Argentina and visited the hotel where Liam had died to take a look at all the tributes paid by fans after his tragic death on October 16. A source said: “Geoff is living every parent’s worst nightmare. He has been so moved by the outpouring of love and the tributes that have come in from across the world.”
Prior to his shock death, it has been reported Liam, father of a son Bear who he shares with Cheryl Tweedy, had been in Buenos Aires to update his US visa and also to watch former bandmate, Niall Horan, perform at the Movistar Arena. His family previously said: “We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
Three people have been since been charged in connection with Liam’s death. According to a translation of the statement issued by the public prosecutor’s office in Argentina, prosecutors said “exhaustive and meticulous measures were taken to clarify the circumstances” around the 31-year-old dad-of-one’s death.
The statement said: “Based on the evidence gathered and after analysing the various bodies of proceedings and numerous documentary annexes and the background of the case, prosecutor Andres Esteban Madrea formally charged three people, requesting their questioning and arrest in a 180-page ruling presented last Friday to Judge Bruniard.”
Prosecutors said one of the people was accompanying the singer on a daily basis in Argentina and stands accused of abandonment of a person followed by death, which could risk a sentence of up to 15 years. Another was an employee at the hotel where Payne was staying. The third person allegedly supplied drugs.
Nine raids have also been ordered on properties in Buenos Aires and the investigation continues with some of Payne’s devices still being analysed. The office also said it had completed a detailed analysis of more than 800 hours of video footage from security cameras and obtained several dozen testimonies from hotel staff, family members, friends and medical professionals.
Prosecutors said there was nothing to indicate any third party was involved in the death while they had also ruled out “self-harm”, according to a forensic psychiatric report.
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