A new judicial process has begun in Argentina regarding the death of legendary footballer Diego Maradona, approximately one year after the initial proceedings were halted because of a scandal involving a judge.
Maradona, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest football players ever, passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recuperating from surgery to address a blood clot in his brain. According to forensic reports, his death was attributed to heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, a condition marked by fluid accumulation in the lungs, following a period of prolonged suffering under home care.
Seven individuals from his medical team, encompassing doctors, nurses, and a psychologist, stand accused of gross negligence concerning the circumstances of his recovery. Prosecutors contend that decisions made during his convalescence at home contributed to his death, with the charges carrying potential penalties of eight to 25 years in prison if convicted.
The first trial was abruptly stopped following the exposure of misconduct by judge Julieta Makintach, who was found to have been involved in a clandestine documentary about the case that featured unauthorised recordings from the courtroom. This revelation led to the invalidation of the entire legal process.
The rescheduled trial, now taking place in San Isidro, is anticipated to hear testimony from around 120 witnesses. Maradona’s daughters, Dalma, Gianinna, and Jana, along with his former partner Veronica Ojeda, were present at the opening session.
During the hearing, defence attorney Francisco Oneto advocated for increased public access to the case, suggesting that the proceedings should be fully broadcast rather than limited to selected highlights.
The defence team has refuted allegations of malpractice, asserting that the former Napoli and Boca Juniors star died of natural causes. Vadim Mischanchuk, representing psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, stated, “If there’s one thing that has been ruled out, it’s a malicious criminal plan to kill Maradona.”
The trial is projected to continue until at least July, as the court investigates whether medical decisions made in Maradona’s final days played a role in his passing. His death in 2020 prompted widespread grief across Argentina, with hundreds of thousands of fans lining up to pay their respects as his body lay in state at the presidential palace amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
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