A new trial regarding the death of football legend Diego Maradona begins Tuesday at a court in San Isidro. The proceedings aim to determine whether seven individuals are responsible for the 2020 death of the Argentine icon.
The first trial, which opened in May 2025, collapsed after a judge allegedly permitted unauthorized filming for a documentary. A new panel of judges will now hear testimony from approximately 100 witnesses, including Maradona's daughters.
Prosecutors have charged the defendants with homicide with possible intent. If convicted, the accused face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
Allegations of medical negligence
Investigators classified the case as culpable homicide, a charge similar to involuntary manslaughter. Authorities allege the medical team knew the severity of Maradona's condition but failed to take necessary life-saving measures.
At the time of his death, Maradona was recovering at his home in Tigre after surgery for a brain blood clot. A preliminary autopsy confirmed that heart failure caused acute pulmonary oedema, a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs.
A panel of medical experts tasked by prosecutors described the treatment at his residence as "deficient and reckless." The panel concluded that the footballer "would have had a better chance of survival" if he had received care in a proper medical facility.
The defendants include his primary medical adviser, Leopoldo Luque, and his psychiatrist, Agustina Cosachov. All seven accused deny the allegations of negligence.
While the main group faces the homicide charges, his former nurse, Dahiana Gisela Madrid, will face a separate trial. The current proceedings are expected to continue through July.
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at age 60. His passing prompted three days of national mourning in Argentina, declared by then-President Alberto Fernandez, who stated, "Thank you for having existed, Diego."
