A news about the death of the world football legend,, started in Argentina. they face manslaughter charges and sentences of up to 25 years in prison, nearly a year after the previous trial was overturned and ended in a mistrial.
Maradona, a personality that lives on in every corner of Argentina – from the giant murals to the tattoos of his loyal fans – passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60. He died of a heart attack while recovering from brain surgery to remove a clot.
The accused and the “list” of witnesses
The court in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires, is expected to hear the testimony of around 100 witnesses, seeking answers to the alleged negligence of the Albiceleste captain’s medical team in 1986.
The medical team denies all charges. Sitting on the bench are:
- Psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov
- Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque
- Psychologist Carlos Angel Diaz
- Dr. Nancy Edith Forlini
- Nurse Ricardo Almiron
- Chief Nurse Mariano Ariel Perroni
- Doctor Pedro Pablo Di Spagna
An eighth defendant, nurse Dahiana Madrid, will be tried in a separate trial with a jury, the date of which has not yet been set.
Why the first trial collapsed
The first attempt at justice, which began in March 2025, was abruptly halted after two months. Judge Julieta Makintach resigned after video emerged of her interviewing a TV crew for documentary purposes, in breach of ethics rules.
The new trial is now forcing prosecutors and defense attorneys to rethink their strategy, as photos, videos, audio and forensic evidence were released in the first trial. It is noted that many family members, such as Maradona’s children and his ex-wife, Claudia Villafane, have already testified.
The “theatre of horror” vs the inevitable
Prosecutors argue that medical professionals violated treatment protocols and that the home where Maradona was recovering turned into a “theatre of horror” where he was not given the necessary care.
For its part, the defense claims his death was inevitable, given his chronic health problems and his 10-year battle with cocaine and alcohol addiction.
The indictment is based on a 2021 medical panel finding that the medical team acted “inappropriately, deficiently and recklessly.”
