Second trial in Maradona death case begins in Argentina
Seven healthcare professionals face trial over the 2020 death of Diego Maradona. The case restarts after the first trial was nullified due to judicial misconduct.
4:45 PM
The second trial in the death of Diego Armando Maradona began Tuesday at the San Isidro courts in Buenos Aires, with seven healthcare professionals facing charges of alleged "simple homicide with eventual intent," a crime carrying a sentence of between eight and 25 years.
The trial, which had appeared at risk of not proceeding, restarted after the first judicial process was declared null in May 2025 following what became known as the "Documentary Scandal," involving then-judge Julieta Makintach, who was subsequently removed from office. Makintach had participated in the production of a documentary without the consent of the parties involved.
The new trial is overseen by the Oral Criminal Court (TOC) No. 7 of San Isidro, composed of judges Alberto Gaig, Alberto Ortolani, and Pablo Rolón. All prior proceedings from the first trial have been voided, and the case begins anew. The first trial had conducted 21 hearings between March and May 2025, during which more than 40 witnesses testified before the original three-judge panel.
Hearings will take place twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The parties initially presented a witness list exceeding 200 people but ultimately agreed that 92 witnesses will testify. These include family members, people close to the former footballer, medical professionals, and police officers.
During Tuesday's opening session, prosecutors characterized the seven defendants as "a group of improvised individuals," presenting their initial arguments before the court. Judge Gaig announced that parties would be permitted to record audio of the hearings under the condition that recordings not be publicly distributed.
A request for live television broadcast of the trial was made by Francisco Oneto, one of the defense attorneys for neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, the principal defendant. Oneto argued that "the Republic does not judge in darkness; tyranny judges in darkness," contending that the first trial was compromised by lack of public transparency. He further stated that the commitment to maintain confidentiality of audio recordings was "the antithesis of giving publicity to the trial." The judges rejected the broadcast request after prosecutors opposed it.
Following the initial procedural matters, each of the seven defendants was presented in court, stating their full name, identification number, marital status, and parents' names. The trial continues with the presentation of evidence and witness testimony scheduled for subsequent sessions.