New trial over soccer legend Maradona’s death begins in Argentina

A new judicial process has begun in Argentina to determine accountability for the death of football icon Diego Maradona. Seven members of his medical team are facing charges of negligent homicide, nearly a year after their initial trial was halted due to a mistrial. Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, following a cardiac arrest after undergoing brain surgery.

The court in San Isidro will hear from close to 100 witnesses as it examines allegations that Maradona's medical team failed to provide adequate care. The defendants, including a psychiatrist, neurosurgeon, psychologist, and nurses, have denied any wrongdoing. An eighth nurse will face a separate jury trial at a later date.

The original trial collapsed after one of the judges resigned following the surfacing of a video showing her in conversation with a camera crew within the courthouse premises, a clear breach of judicial protocol. This mistrial necessitates a fresh start, requiring both prosecution and defense teams to recalibrate their strategies in light of previously presented evidence, including photographs, videos, and audio recordings.

Prosecutors contend that the medical professionals deviated from treatment protocols, describing the recovery environment as a "theatre of horror." Conversely, the defense maintains that Maradona's death was unavoidable, given his long-standing struggles with cocaine and alcohol addiction and other severe health problems. The negligence charges stemmed from a 2021 medical board investigation that concluded the team's actions were "inappropriate, deficient and reckless."