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Two more charged over death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne

In short: 

Prosecutors in Argentina have provided a lengthy update on their investigation into former One Direction singer Liam Payne's death.

It contained a lot of fresh allegations about events leading up to the pop star's October 16 balcony fall, and revealed two more people had been charged. 

What's next?

The matter will proceed to Argentina's court system, and none of the five people charged so far have entered a plea.

New allegations about Liam Payne's death have been revealed, with a judge claiming several people, including a friend and hotel staff, failed to protect the pop star in his final moments.

Payne, who was a member of boy band One Direction, died when he fell from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16.

The fresh claims about the 31-year-old Brit's demise were made public in a lengthy update released by public prosecutors on Monday, local time.

The document claimed Payne was so drunk and drug-affected in the hours before his death that he was unconscious and could not walk, so three people decided to drag him to his room.

Prosecutors also revealed two more people had been charged over Payne's death, bringing the total number who'll face the country's courts to five.

Three have been charged with manslaughter and two have been charged with drug supply offences.

Under Argentina's legal system, prosecutors present evidence to a judge, who subsequently decides whether to send the case to trial.

The prosecutors' update provided multiple quotes from the judge overseeing the case, Laura Bruniard, and said she had already ruled it would proceed to a court.

In line with Argentina's legal traditions, the accused were referred to only by their initials in Monday's update.

The judge was quoted as saying Payne's friend Roger Nores "is held criminally responsible for the death", because he "abandoned" the singer, "having full knowledge of the state of intoxication, vulnerability and helplessness in which he found himself".

Mr Nores is one of the people who've been charged with manslaughter.

The other two are the hotel's manager Gilda Martin and receptionist, Esteban Grassi, who prosecutors allege were in the lobby when Payne returned to his accommodation on the day of his death.

The judge claimed both employees saw Payne "could not stand due to the consumption of various substances".

The judge claimed Ms Martin should have kept the unconscious Payne away from "sources of danger" until he was provided with medical care, and that Mr Grassi "led a group of three people who dragged Payne to his room moments before his death".

A forensic technician uses his phone outside the hotel where Liam Payne was found dead. (Reuters: Agustin Marcarian)

Prosecutors have also charged Ezequiel Pereyra, another hotel employee, and Braian Paiz, a waiter, with drug supply offences.

Mr Pereyra is accused of selling cocaine to Payne on October 15 and 16, while Mr Paiz is accused of selling it to the singer twice on October 14.

In the published update, Judge Laura Bruniard described Payne as "a picture of addiction", who had demanded cocaine and alcohol from hotel staff.

"On October 16, moments before 5pm, Payne could not care for himself," she said.

Payne plunged from the balcony and was confirmed dead at 5:11pm.

The judge claimed the three people who had been charged with manslaughter "have contributed, although not in a planned manner, to creating a risk" that led to Payne's death.

None of the accused have entered a plea yet.

Mr Nores, Ms Martin and Mr Grassi — who have all been charged with manslaughter — have not yet been taken in to custody. If found guilty, they face a maximum five years behind bars.

Meanwhile, drug supply offences carry much higher jail terms in Argentina, with those convicted facing a maximum 15 years behind bars.

Mr Paiz and Mr Pereyra have both already been taken into custody while they await a potential trial.

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