The deceased had already entrusted funds to his partner to pay off his debts before he died I think it was the obligation of his colleague to pay them off immediately, and I read that his colleague also said that he would pay off even one of the reasons he created an account on this forum (if I am not mistaken) was to clear this matter, so nothing to be debated.
But there can be exceptional cases. Example is someone that is travelling and had a car accident and instantly died. It could be in a way he had no friend or family that will pay back the loan. Family is even what we can more consider more because friends can know about it and do not do anything because only family can be concerned if they are capable of paying the loan.