The legal case surrounding the death of football legend Diego Maradona has returned to the forefront, with a new trial set to hear testimony from a staggering 120 witnesses.
The proceedings, which began on Monday, June 3, 2024, in a court in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, are examining the circumstances of Maradona’s passing on November 25, 2020. Eight individuals, including doctors and nurses, are facing charges of homicide with possible intent.
The prosecution’s core argument is that Maradona, 60 at the time of his death, was in a state of “helplessness” and received inadequate care in the period leading up to his death from acute pulmonary edema. They allege the medical team responsible for him failed to prevent his death.
In contrast, lawyers for the defendants have consistently maintained their clients’ innocence. They argue that Maradona was a complex patient who was ultimately responsible for his own treatment and health decisions.
The trial is expected to be lengthy, with the court scheduling sessions three times a week. A verdict is not anticipated before the end of 2024 or even early 2025.
This trial follows a prior investigative process that concluded in 2021, which recommended the case proceed to trial. The new proceedings promise to meticulously reconstruct the final days of one of football’s greatest icons.
