A new trial into the death of football icon Diego Maradona opened on Tuesday in Argentina, nearly 10 months after judicial misconduct led to the collapse of an earlier proceeding.
Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, died in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery following a clot.
Seven members of his medical team are facing charges of gross negligence, accused of contributing to his death through the conditions of his home care. Prosecutors allege he died from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, weeks after surgery, after reportedly enduring prolonged suffering.
The previous trial, which began last year and featured emotional testimony from family members, was derailed after revelations that one of the judges, Julieta Makintach, had participated in an unauthorized documentary linked to the case, forcing proceedings to be annulled.
The retrial is expected to hear testimony from around 120 witnesses and will again examine whether the medical team is criminally responsible for Maradona’s death.
Family members, including his daughters Dalma, Gianinna, and Jana, as well as former partner Verónica Ojeda, attended the opening session in a packed courtroom in San Isidro, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
The accused doctors, nurses, and psychologists face charges of homicide with possible intent, meaning they are alleged to have pursued a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death. The defence, however, maintains that Maradona died of natural causes, citing his long-standing struggles with addiction.
The trial is expected to continue until at least July. Maradona’s death in 2020 prompted nationwide mourning in Argentina, with thousands lining up to pay their respects as his body lay in state at the presidential palace.
New Trial Begins in Argentina Over Diego Maradona’s Death
(FILES) Members of social organizations stand next to a mural depicting late Argentine football star Diego Maradona during a protest at Pueyrredon bridge in Buenos Aires on December 2, 2022. Four years after the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, seven healthcare professionals will go on trial on March 11, 2025, in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, accused of negligence that may have led to his death. Over a hundred witnesses, including members of Maradona's family and doctors who tended to him down the years, will take the stand over the course of the four-month trial. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
