Maradona death trial: Ex-assistant testifies to 'free fall' and doctor's role

Maximiliano Pomargo, a former assistant to Diego Maradona and brother-in-law to the football legend's lawyer Matías Morla, provided extensive testimony in the trial investigating the circumstances surrounding Maradona's death. His nearly eight-hour statement was a key moment in the proceedings, though at times he claimed to not recall specific events.

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Clearly, not well. To enter what was October [2020], I communicated to Luque, I said that I saw him in free fall, he was drinking a lot and there was no way [to stop him]. The idea was considered whether he had to be hospitalized by force or if he would go on his own.

Pomargo, who presented himself as Maradona's secretary or assistant, testified before the Oral Criminal Court No. 7 of San Isidro. His testimony was closely followed by Maradona's daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, and Verónica Ojeda, the mother of his youngest son. Prosecutors highlighted Pomargo's statements regarding Maradona's health.

According to Pomargo, neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, one of the defendants, was Maradona's trusted physician responsible for his health. He also mentioned that psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov joined Maradona's care team when the football icon began drinking heavily after moving to the Campos de Roca country club while coaching Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.

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He was in charge of Maradona's health. He was the trusted person.

Addressing Maradona's condition in October 2020, Pomargo told prosecutors he observed the football legend in "free fall." He stated Maradona was drinking heavily, and efforts to stop him were proving futile. Discussions even arose about whether Maradona needed to be forcibly hospitalized. Pomargo also recalled that Luque informed the team on November 10, 2020, shortly before Maradona's discharge from Clínica Olivos after surgery, that he could no longer be Maradona's doctor. Pomargo confirmed that Cosachov was primarily managing Maradona's addiction issues at the time.

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No.