Who even is Roger Nores, the man suing Liam Payne’s dad for $10 million?

So, Roger Nores was a friend of Liam Payne’s. He is one of the five suspects linked to Liam Payne’s death in October. The Argentinian authorities have charged him with neglecting Liam Payne before his death. Now, Roger Nores says the statements which Liam Payne’s father, Geoff Payne, made to the police have damaged his reputation. Roger Nores is suing Geoff Payne for $10 million (£8.1 million).

Here’s an easy-to-read explanation of who Roger Nores actually is, how he’s been linked to Liam Payne’s death, and why he’s now suing Liam Payne’s dad.

Who even is Roger Nores?

His full name is Rogelio Nores. He’s 35, and a millionaire Argentinian businessman. He launched his own investment company at 23, and made lots of money through energy companies. Roger was even featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list back in 2018.

How did Liam Payne know Roger Nores?

A selfie Roger Nores took with Liam Payne
(Image via Snapchat)

He allegedly met back in 2020 at a fancy London house party. The pair spent lots of time together this year. The house where Liam Payne lived with Kate Cassidy in Palm Beach actually belonged to one of Roger Nores’s friends. Roger Nores lived close by.

Liam Payne clarified in a Snapchat video, “There was a lot of things in magazines saying me and Roger are gay together – not true, unfortunately.”

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In August, Roger emailed Geoff Payne and Liam Payne’s management team, saying he was concerned for the singer’s well-being. According to  Page Six, the message said, “Liam stayed at my friend’s ranch down in Palm Beach and since the first day he arrived he was monitored and treated by professional doctors who specialize in addictions. He stayed fully clean without access to any hard drug (sic) during his whole stay. The plan was for him to work on the preparation for a music tour and stay healthy and busy with work. A plan he successfully followed during his whole stay in the US.

“I’m really concerned for his well-being while he is out there and I hope you can bring professional doctors to check on his health regularly as soon as possible as I did while he was out in the US. I am going to stay fully out of the picture and disconnected from now on and I wish you all the best with Liam’s health and career.”

Roger and his girlfriend went to Niall Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires with Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy.

Why have the police connected Roger Nores to Liam Payne’s death?

The hotel where Liam Payne died (Image via Google Maps)

So, Roger Nores was with Liam Payne at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel a few hours before he fell from the balcony. We know that while Liam Payne was under the influence of drugs, he caused a disturbance in the hotel lobby. CCTV footage shows hotel staff taking Liam up to the hotel room, and Liam resisting. It is believed Liam Payne fell from the balcony while trying to escape the hotel room.

The Argentinian authorities accused Roger Nores of leaving Liam in the hotel lobby while he was in an unsafe state, so being in some way responsible for his death.

Kate Cassidy had flown home from Argentina several days before this.

The original statement from the National Prosecutor’s Office for Criminal and Correctional Matters in Argentina said, “The first of the accused is the person who accompanied the artist on a daily basis during his stay in the city of Buenos Aires, who is charged with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death – contemplated in article 106 of the Penal Code and which provides for a prison sentence of 5 to 15 years –  as perpetrator, in ideal concurrence with the supply and facilitation of narcotics.”

After questioning Roger on 18th December, the judge lowered the original charge to “homicidio culposo” which means “negligent homicide” or “manslaughter”.

Liam Payne, Roger Nores and their friends
(Image via Snapchat)

Roger Nores has repeatedly denied leaving Liam Payne while he was unsafe. He told the Daily Mail, “I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel 3 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’m really heartbroken with this tragedy, and I’ve been missing my friend every day.”

Why has Roger Nores decided to sue Liam Payne’s dad?

Roger Nores filed a federal lawsuit in Florida on Wednesday. He claims Geoff Payne made “false” and “misleading” statements to the Argentinian police on 22nd and 26th October.

He’s claiming Geoff Payne overexaggerated how responsible Roger was for Liam. Geoff told the police he could only contact Liam through either Roger Nores and Kate Cassidey, and that Roger “had full responsibility for Liam’s care”. He said Roger, Kate and Liam’s bodyguard were part of a “care group” who were aware Liam “could not be left alone in the vulnerable situation in which he was”.

Roger Nores back in 2018
(Image via YouTube)

Geoff allegedly also claimed Roger helped hire a new psychiatrist.  Roger and Liam apparently hid Liam’s problems with alcohol and drugs from the psychiatrist so Liam could be prescribed medication. Liam’s bodyguard allegedly told the psychiatrist about this, so Roger “manipulated” Liam into firing the boyguard.

Roger claims he “never agreed to be the caretaker of Liam” and “did not have a legal duty to Liam”. He also says Liam Payne could contact his family members on his laptop.

Roger is arguing Geoff’s statements led to Roger’s reputation being damaged. He wants Geoff Payne to pay him $10 million (£8.1 million) as compensation. Roger told Rolling Stone, “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.”

Roger Nores says he’ll donate the money to Liam Payne’s son, but Liam Payne’s family say this is all  ‘pointless’

The front page of the lawsuit says the “net financial proceeds of the judicial proceedings” will go to Liam Payne’s son, Bear.

The response letter from Liam’s estate said it would be “pointless” for Roger to get money from Liam Payne’s estate, then give it to his son.

Featured images of Liam Payne and Roger Nores via YouTube.