The trial of Diego Maradona's medical team in Argentina faced an unexpected setback, resulting in a mistrial prompted by judicial misconduct. On March 11, the trial commenced with charges against seven members of Maradona's medical staff, including a neurosurgeon and a nurse, relating to their care of the football icon prior to his death. The proceedings were set to continue until July but came to a startling halt due to the revelation that one of the judges, Julieta Makintach, participated in a documentary about the case, leading to serious questions about the fairness of the trial.
Maradona, who passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60, had been recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot when he succumbed to a heart attack. The medical team is accused of negligent homicide, a charge they deny by claiming that Maradona refused further treatment and had been advised to rest at home. If found guilty, the professionals could face substantial prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
Contentious scenes unfolded in court this week when Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari criticized Judge Makintach, asserting that she acted unprofessionally by appearing in a documentary. The airing of a promotional trailer for the series titled "Divine Justice" in court instigated a dramatic outburst from defense attorney Rodolfo Baque, who condemned it as "trash." Maradona's daughter and ex-partner were visibly upset while witnessing the footage.
Following the backlash, Judge Makintach expressed regret and officially recused herself, resulting in the trial being adjourned. The court is yet to determine a new date for the retrial, and the process of appointing new judges remains ongoing. Throughout the original trial, nearly 50 witnesses, including Maradona's daughters, shared their testimonies regarding the circumstances of the football star's final days.
Maradona, who passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60, had been recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot when he succumbed to a heart attack. The medical team is accused of negligent homicide, a charge they deny by claiming that Maradona refused further treatment and had been advised to rest at home. If found guilty, the professionals could face substantial prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
Contentious scenes unfolded in court this week when Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari criticized Judge Makintach, asserting that she acted unprofessionally by appearing in a documentary. The airing of a promotional trailer for the series titled "Divine Justice" in court instigated a dramatic outburst from defense attorney Rodolfo Baque, who condemned it as "trash." Maradona's daughter and ex-partner were visibly upset while witnessing the footage.
Following the backlash, Judge Makintach expressed regret and officially recused herself, resulting in the trial being adjourned. The court is yet to determine a new date for the retrial, and the process of appointing new judges remains ongoing. Throughout the original trial, nearly 50 witnesses, including Maradona's daughters, shared their testimonies regarding the circumstances of the football star's final days.
