Maradona Death Trial: Verdict Due December 22 in Negligence Case Against Healthcare Professionals

The court announced on Thursday that the verdict in the trial concerning the 2020 death of Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona will be delivered on December 22, concluding six months of hearings. The trial focused on seven healthcare professionals accused of negligence in the star’s passing.

The proceedings wrapped up on Thursday with closing statements from Maradona’s daughter, Dalma Maradona, and several of the defendants. Dalma Maradona, her voice filled with emotion, stated, “I hope my father receives the justice he deserves … like anyone else.” The primary defendant, Leopoldo Luque, who served as Maradona’s personal doctor, declared his innocence, saying, “I am innocent.”

Diego Maradona died at the age of 60 from heart failure complicated by pulmonary oedema. The iconic figure, who had a history of substance abuse, was discovered deceased in his bed on November 25, 2020, at his residence in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires. The home had been rented for his recovery following a minor neurosurgery. His death triggered national mourning in Argentina amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The trial, which commenced in April, heard testimony from over 70 witnesses. Prosecutors have recommended prison sentences ranging from four to 12 years for six of the seven defendants. The most severe sentence, 12 years, has been sought for Leopoldo Luque.

In his closing arguments on Wednesday, Luque’s defence lawyers contested the prosecution’s assertion that Maradona’s death was preventable, characterizing their client as a “scapegoat.” Luque was notably the most vocal defendant throughout the trial, speaking multiple times when he felt unfairly implicated. His legal team presented audio recordings, scientific articles, and even a video of Maradona’s autopsy, which reportedly angered the footballer’s daughters.

“It’s easy to attack me because I’m the one who had the most contact with Maradona,” Luque stated in court, asserting that “the only one who would defend me would be Diego. I cared deeply for him, I loved him, he was my idol and my friend.”

The core of the case has centered on whether the medical team’s decision to allow Maradona to convalesce at home rather than in a hospital constituted negligence. Prosecutors highlighted the near-complete absence of essential medical equipment, such as a hospital bed, defibrillator, or readily available ambulance, as evidence of the defendants’ alleged dereliction of duty. Several medical experts testified that Maradona’s caretakers failed to adequately respond to critical warning signs, including oedema, tachycardia, and breathing difficulties, in the period leading up to his death.