One Direction star Liam Payne’s inquest delayed until next year as coroner seeks to procure ‘eyewitness statements’

The pre-inquest review said the coroner will seek to obtain full reports and eyewitness statements before the final inquest into the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne is held.

Senior coroner Crispin Butler told a three-minute hearing at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court on Thursday that “inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Liam’s death are continuing in Argentina.”

Payne died at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina in October last year.

The autopsy report stated that Payne died of multiple trauma and “internal and external bleeding” after falling from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires.

In February, a court in Argentina dropped criminal negligence charges against three of the five people charged in connection with Payne’s death.

Mr Butler added that the coroner had been provided with the first documents relating to the autopsy performed in Argentina and the first police crime scene report. These documents will be officially translated and Payne’s family will then be contacted.

The coroner will attempt to obtain full reports, including eyewitness statements.

He said: “We will continue to liaise with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to obtain full reports, eyewitness statements and other relevant evidence for consideration in due course to answer legal questions at the final inquest… i.e. who the deceased was, the ultimate medical cause of death, [and] “When, where and how did he reach death?”

The investigation has been postponed until a new preliminary investigation review will be held on 7 May 2026 at 10:00.

Following his band’s hiatus, Payne embarked on a successful solo career and released his debut solo album in December 2019. LP1It included the songs “Polaroid” featuring Quavo, “Strip That Down” and “For You” featuring Rita Ora.