Five men have been charged in connection with the death of Liam Payne, the former One Direction star who plunged to his death in Argentina on Oct 16.

Three of the men have been charged with manslaughter, while the other two have been formally accused of selling him drugs on two separate occasions.

Investigating judge Laura Bruniard was expected to make a decision on whether to move forward with prosecutions or close the case against the suspects early in the New Year.

But it emerged overnight she had already made her decision within a 10-day time limit she had to rule after summoning them for questioning just before Christmas.