Why Diego Maradona’s Death Case Is Back in Court

A new trial over the death of the legendary football player Diego Maradona began on April 14 in Argentina. This follows a mistrial last year over a corruption scandal involving one of the judges hearing the case. Seven members of Maradona’s medical team are being accused of negligence that led to his death.

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona died at the age of 60 from a heart attack. Seven members of his medical team are being charged with negligent homicide following his death. The team members are accused of gross negligence in his home care.

However, his medical team has denied the allegations. They have stated that Maradona had health issues and died of natural causes. If convicted, they face prison terms of 8 to 25 years.

The first trial in the case collapsed in May last year after a scandal unfolded, resulting in the trial being annulled. One of the three judges hearing the case resigned after allowing filming of a documentary inside the courtroom, which is illegal. Judge Julieta Makintach had allegedly taken part in the documentary being made bout Maradona. The scandal forced her to resign, and the case was declared a mistrial.

Diego Maradona, one of the legendary football players of the world, died at the age of 60 in November 2020, at his home in Tigre, Buenos Aires, while recovering from a brain blood clot.

The investigators classified the case as culpable homicide, which is similar to involuntary manslaughter. His medical team is being accused of negligence. The investigators have mentioned that he had a strong medical team who were aware of his medical condition, but did not take the necessary measures to save him.

According to forensic experts, Maradona suffered from heart failure, which in turn led to acute pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema is a condition in which fluid accumulates in the lungs.

A panel of medical experts, tasked by the prosecutor with investigating Maradona’s medical team, said the treatment he was receiving at home was “deficient and reckless.” The panel concluded that “the footballer had a better chance of survival if treated at a medical facility.”

The new trial, which began in Argentina, will hear 120 witnesses. The objective is to determine once again whether Maradona’s medical team was responsible for his death. Maradona’s daughters and his former wife were present on the first day of the trial.

The defense has requested that the entire trial be streamed on live TV, instead of just the first day and the day of the verdict. The defense attorney, however, has denied all negligence charges. The defense maintains that Maradona, who had battled cocaine and alcohol addiction, died of natural causes.