A new chapter has opened in one of football’s most controversial cases, as a fresh trial into the death of Argentine legend, Diego Maradona officially gets underway in Argentina.
Nearly a year after the initial proceedings collapsed in scandal, seven members of Maradona’s medical team now stand trial for negligent homicide.
This new development in the case could finally determine responsibility for the death of one of football’s greatest-ever icons.
The retrial, taking place in San Isidro near Buenos Aires, comes after the original case was sensationally declared a mistrial.
The earlier proceedings were halted when Judge Julieta Makintach resigned following revelations she had participated in a documentary about the case, which is an act that violated judicial rules and triggered public outrage.
Now, with a new panel of judges in place, prosecutors and defence lawyers must restart their battle from scratch, reassessing evidence that includes
- photographs,
- videos,
- audio recordings, and
- forensic findings.
Seven Medics in the Dock
At the heart of the case are seven medical professionals accused of negligence:
- Psychiatrist – Agustina Cosachov
- Neurosurgeon – Leopoldo Luque
- Psychologist – Carlos Ángel Díaz
- Physician – Nancy Edith Forlini
- Nurse Ricardo – Almirón
- Head nurse – Mariano Ariel Perroni
- Physician – Pedro Pablo Di Spagna
An eighth defendant, nurse – Dahiana Madrid, will face a separate jury trial at a later date.
All defendants have denied wrongdoing, insisting that Maradona’s death was not the result of negligence.
“A Bunch of Amateurs” – Prosecutors Attacks
Prosecutors of the case were the first to draw the sword for the retrial, delivering a blistering opening statement.
They accused the medical team of gross negligence, branding them a:
“bunch of amateurs”
and alleging they committed:
“all kinds of omissions,”
which led to what they described as “cruel” conditions during Maradona’s final days.
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari went even further, claiming:
“Diego Maradona began to die 12 hours before his actual death.”
“Anyone who thought to transfer him to a clinic in a car or ambulance during his last week would have saved his life.”
“Theatre of Horror” vs “Inevitable Death”
The case hinges on what happened between November 11 and 25, 2020, when Maradona was recovering at home after brain surgery.
Prosecutors argue the environment he was placed in amounted to a:
“theatre of horror,”
claiming essential medical care was not provided.
A medical board previously concluded the team acted in an:
“inappropriate, deficient and reckless” manner.
However, the defence has pushed back strongly, arguing Maradona’s death was unavoidable due to his long-standing health issues, including years of cocaine and alcohol addiction.
Defence lawyer Vadim Mischanchuk stated:
“We started this trial to demonstrate the absence of criminal responsibility in each of the seven defendants, because it is clear that there was no intentional criminal plan to kill Maradona.”
Family Demands Justice
The courtroom has been filled with emotion, with Maradona’s family, including his daughters; Dalma, Gianinna, and Jana, and former partner, Verónica Ojeda, present as proceedings began.
Mario Baudry, lawyer for Maradona’s youngest son, made the family’s expectations clear:
“We hope the court will rise to the occasion, that it will understand the gravity of the crime under investigation, what they have to judge, and above all, what Diego represented for Argentinians and for the world of football.”
Ojeda added:
“That’s what we all need: justice for Diego. We want to live in peace and for Diego to rest in peace.”
Outside the courthouse, fans gathered with banners demanding “Justice for D10S”, a tribute to Maradona’s iconic No. 10 shirt and god-like status in Argentina.
A Trial Under Intense Scrutiny
The new panel of judges, who will oversee testimony from around 100 witnesses are
- Alberto Gaig,
- Alberto Ortolani, and
- Pablo Rolón.
Baudry warned:
“I think the entire San Isidro judiciary will be under scrutiny in this trial.”
Even the defence has raised concerns about fairness, with lawyer Nicolás D’Álbora questioning why the defendants must endure another trial due to judicial misconduct:
“This trial shouldn’t even begin. The question that needs to be asked is why my client has to undergo a new trial because a judge decided to make a documentary. Why should the defendants pay the price?”
What Happens Next?
The retrial is expected to last several weeks, with a verdict potentially arriving before mid-year.
Baudry expressed confidence in a swift conclusion:
“The expectation is that it won’t take more than 30 days, meaning it should be completed in two months, and that justice will be served: a guilty verdict for those responsible for Diego’s death.”
Meanwhile, the defence remains optimistic:
“This trial must proceed out of respect for Maradona’s family and out of respect for all the defendants.”
“This trial must begin and it must end. And I am certain that this court will ensure it does so.”
A Global Icon, A Lingering Mystery
Maradona, who led Argentina to glory at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, died on November 25, 2020, from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, just weeks after undergoing brain surgery.
His death plunged the football world into mourning and sparked a relentless demand for answers.
Now, nearly six years later, the question that have been lingering around is – Was it fate or fatal negligence?
