A lasting icon in Argentina—reflected in towering murals—Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, following a heart attack while recovering from brain surgery to remove a blood clot.
A court in San Isidro, close to Buenos Aires, will hear from nearly 100 witnesses as it evaluates the actions of Maradona’s medical team regarding alleged negligence in the death of the 1986 World Cup champion.
The medical team has denied any wrongdoing. The individuals on trial include psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychologist Carlos Angel Diaz, physician Nancy Edith Forlini, nurse Ricardo Almiron, head nurse Mariano Ariel Perroni, and physician Pedro Pablo Di Spagna. A separate jury trial is pending for an eighth defendant, nurse Dahiana Madrid, with no date established yet.
Two months into the initial trial, which began last March, a mistrial was declared when one of the three judges, Julieta Makintach, resigned after being filmed by a camera crew in courthouse corridors and her office for a documentary, violating judicial protocols.
The retrial will compel both prosecutors and defense attorneys to revisit their strategies after the first trial showcased photographs, videos, audio recordings, and forensic evidence. Numerous witnesses, including Maradona’s children and his former spouse, Claudia Villafane, have already provided testimony.
Prosecutors contended during the initial trial that medical professionals violated treatment protocols, and claimed that the environment where Maradona was recuperating was akin to a “theatre of horror,” lacking necessary care.
The defense argued that his death was unavoidable due to his long-standing health issues. Maradona faced decades of struggles with cocaine and alcohol addiction.
The negligence charges arose in 2021 after prosecutors engaged a medical board to examine Maradona’s death. This panel determined that his medical team acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless” manner.
If found guilty, the defendants could face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
First Published: Apr 14, 2026 6:11 PM IST
