A court in Buenos Aires confirmed on Tuesday (2) that the new trial for the death of Diego Maradona will begin on March 17, with three weekly hearings, and accepted a reduction in the number of witnesses requested by the prosecution, which still needs to be agreed with the defense.
The hearing was marked by requests for annulment of the case presented by the defense lawyers of the seven defendants accused of intentional homicide, an accusation that implies that they were aware that their actions could cause the death of the football star in 2020.
A previous trial was overturned in May after it was discovered that one of the judges was involved in the clandestine production of a documentary about the trial. The scandal led to the dismissal of judge Julieta Makintach in November and interrupted more than 20 hearings and 44 depositions.
The new trial hearings “will be held three times a week”, starting March 17, said one of the judges, Alberto Gaig, at the end of the preliminary hearing.
The court admitted a reduced list of approximately 90 witnesses and a preliminary list of evidence that will be used in the future trial. Both items still need to be agreed upon by the parties, but this will be done in private and will not change the start date of the trial, explained one of the prosecutors, Cosme Iribarren.
The judges rejected the appeals presented by the defense to suspend the preliminary hearing until other requests from the defendants, currently being analyzed by the Court of Appeals, are judged.
“Despite all attempts to prevent it, you have a trial date! We will continue fighting and face everything that comes your way so that you have the justice you deserve!”, celebrated Dalma, one of Maradona’s daughters, on her Instagram.
Some defense lawyers had requested a mistrial days earlier, based on the Argentine procedural principle that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime. This is part of what is currently under consideration in the Court of Appeal.
“They are proposing two trials here, and that cannot be done”, said on Monday (1st) Nicolás D’Albora, lawyer for one of the accused and one of the proponents of the annulment requests.
“By rushing things, you will end up hurting this case even more,” he said, referring to the court.
The three daughters of the former Argentine footballer were present at the hearing, Dalma, Gianinna and Jana.
Maradona died at the age of 60 from a cardiorespiratory crisis and pulmonary edema while recovering from head surgery while hospitalized at home.
In addition to the seven health professionals involved in this trial, an eighth defendant will face a separate trial.
