The high-profile homicide trial of Diego Maradona’s medical team has been declared a mistrial, lawyers confirmed on Thursday, following the sudden resignation of one of the presiding judges amid allegations of misconduct.
The case, which has drawn intense national and international attention, centred on the 2020 death of football legend Diego Maradona, who died of heart failure while recovering from brain surgery. Seven members of his medical team were facing charges of negligent homicide, accused of contributing to his death through alleged medical mismanagement.
The defendants, including doctors and nurses, denied the charges of “simple homicide with eventual intent”, a legal term in Argentina suggesting that they should have foreseen the possible consequences of their actions. If convicted, they faced sentences ranging from eight to 25 years in prison.
The trial was derailed after Judge Julieta Makintach, one of the three judges overseeing the proceedings, resigned on Tuesday. Her decision came after a video surfaced showing her appearing in a documentary film crew’s footage inside the courthouse, including scenes from her office — a clear violation of judicial protocol.
The footage sparked backlash and raised serious concerns over judicial impartiality. Her participation in the filming was deemed an ethical breach, prompting her withdrawal and effectively voiding the trial
.
“This is all a great embarrassment,” said defence attorney Miguel Angel Pierri, speaking to reporters outside the Buenos Aires courthouse.
As of Thursday, no new trial date has been announced, and replacement judges have not yet been nominated. The delay casts uncertainty over the future of a case that has already stirred controversy, legal scrutiny, and public emotion in a nation where Maradona remains a deeply revered figure.
Diego Maradona, who famously led Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986, died in November 2020 at the age of 60. His sudden passing shocked the football world and led to widespread mourning, followed by legal action to examine whether his death could have been prevented.
With the trial now reset, the path to justice remains unclear — but public interest in the case shows no signs of fading.
Melissa Enoch
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