The trial against seven healthcare professionals accused of contributing to the death of football legend Diego Maradona has begun in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Prosecutors are pursuing manslaughter charges with eventual intent, alleging that those responsible for Maradona’s care acted recklessly, leading to his death on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60.
While his death was initially attributed to heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, Maradona’s family claims it was the result of a deliberate plan.
Fernando Burlando, the family’s lawyer, stated in court that Maradona was “murdered” and accused a hidden figure of assembling a medical team to kill him in a “silent yet equally cruel manner.” Among the accused are neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, along with other medical personnel, who allegedly ignored signs of his worsening condition. Nurse Gisela Dahiana Madrid will be tried separately. The legal team claims that evidence uncovered since 2021 suggests a premeditated plan that began on November 11 and culminated in Maradona’s death on the 25th.
Burlando described the event as filled with “negligence, indifference, and cold-blooded recklessness.” Prosecutors argue the case was a “perfect crime” carried out with intent. The trial, held at the San Isidro courthouse, will continue on Thursday with the second session of the hearing.
