Buenos Aires: An Argentine court has commenced the trial of seven healthcare professionals accused of negligence in the death of soccer legend Diego Maradona. Maradona, 60, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on November 25, 2020, while under their care at a residence outside Buenos Aires.
Three judges will decide whether those charged, including a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and several medical staffers, are guilty of manslaughter. The maximum jail time for those sentenced is 25 years.
The prosecution alleges that the accused healthcare professionals failed to provide adequate medical care to Diego Maradona.
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari intends to present evidence showing that Maradona was relocated to a private residence in Tigre, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, between November 11 and 25, 2020, without being mentally competent to consent to home hospitalisation.
Ferrari claims that this decision constituted a reckless and uncontrolled hospitalisation.
“After condemning him to oblivion in that house... they deliberately and cruelly decided that he should die,” he said.
The prosecutor presented an image of Diego Maradona in his final moments, lying in bed with a visibly swollen abdomen, where he was found dead.
Diego Maradona's family members, including his oldest daughters Dalma and Giannina, attended the hearing, sitting in the front row alongside his former partner Verónica Ojeda and another daughter, Jana.
Minutes before the trial began, Verónica Ojeda shared a video on social media featuring Diego Maradona's son, Diego Fernando, wearing a T-shirt with his father's face and the word "justice" printed on it.
Neurosurgeon Leonardo Luque, Diego Maradona's personal physician for the final four years of his life, is now under the spotlight. Luque had performed brain surgery on Maradona just weeks prior to his death, removing a blood clot from the legendary footballer's brain.
Six other professionals will be on trial. Psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who prescribed the medication that Maradona took until the time of his death, psychologist Carlos Díaz, Nancy Forlini, a coordinator of the medical company hired for Maradona's care during his hospitalisation, Mariano Perroni, a representative of the company that rendered nursing service, Dr. Pedro Di Spagna, who monitored his treatment, and nurse Ricardo Almirón.
Gisela Madrid, a nurse who was also indicted, will be tried by a jury later this year.
The trial is expected to span approximately four months, with three hearings scheduled per week.
(inputs from PTI)