Retrial over death of Argentina legend Maradona to begin
TL;DR
A retrial for Diego Maradona's death begins, following a mistrial in May 2025 due to unauthorized filming. Seven members of his medical team are accused of culpable homicide and face 8 to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Key points
- Retrial for Diego Maradona's death starts on Tuesday
- First trial declared a mistrial due to unauthorized filming
- Seven medical team members accused of culpable homicide
A retrial into the death of the football great Diego Maradona, who died aged 60 after suffering heart failure, starts on Tuesday.
The first trial in May 2025 was declared a mistrial, after one of the three judges on the case allegedly allowed unauthorised filming in court for a documentary.
Maradona's medical team are accused of failing to administer proper medical care, and seven people will be tried for homicide with possible intent. They deny the allegations. If convicted, they face between eight and 25 years in prison.
The football legend had been recovering at his home in Tigre, in Buenos Aires province, after successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier that month.
Investigators classified the case as culpable homicide, a crime similar to involuntary manslaughter, because they said the accused were aware of the seriousness of Maradona's health condition but did not take the necessary measures to save him.
The heart failure caused him to suffer acute pulmonary oedema, when fluid builds up in the lungs, the preliminary autopsy confirmed.
A panel of medical experts, asked by prosecutors to investigate Maradona's medical team, said the treatment he received at his home was "deficient and reckless".
It concluded that the footballer "would have had a better chance of survival" with adequate treatment in an appropriate medical facility.
The seven people on trial include his main medical adviser, Leopoldo Luque, and his psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov.
His former nurse, Dahiana Gisela Madrid, will stand in a separate trial.
Around 100 people are set to testify in front of a new set of judges at a court in San Isidro, including Maradona's daughters. The trial is expected to last until July.
When the footballer died on 25 November 2020, then President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez declared three days of national mourning.
"Thank you for having existed, Diego. We're going to miss you all our lives," he said.
Maradona started his career with Argentinos Juniors. He went on to represent Argentina in four World Cups, scoring 34 goals, including the infamous "Hand of God" goal against England in 1986.
During the second half of his career, he struggled with cocaine addiction. He was banned for 15 months after testing positive for the drug in 1991.
He retired from professional football in 1997, on his 37th birthday, during his second stint at Argentine giants Boca Juniors.
Maradona was appointed head coach of the national team in 2008 and left after the 2010 World Cup, where his side were beaten by Germany in the quarter-finals.
He subsequently managed teams in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico and was in charge of Argentinian club Gimnasia y Esgrima at the time of his death.
Q&A
What are the charges against Diego Maradona's medical team?
They are accused of culpable homicide for failing to provide proper medical care, facing potential prison sentences of 8 to 25 years.
Why was the first trial for Maradona's death declared a mistrial?
The first trial was declared a mistrial because one of the judges allegedly allowed unauthorized filming in court for a documentary.
What was the cause of Diego Maradona's death?
Diego Maradona died from heart failure at the age of 60, shortly after recovering from surgery on a brain blood clot.
