Maradona Death Trial Annulled After Documentary Scandal

The criminal trial of seven medical professionals accused of negligence surrounding the death of football legend Diego Maradona in 2020 has been declared null and void due to judicial misconduct. Judge Julieta Makintach, one of the three judges on the panel, was found to have participated in the unauthorized filming of a documentary about the case, violating court rules and leading to her recusal. Judge Maximiliano Savarino annulled the trial, citing Makintach's biased conduct that prejudiced both prosecution and defense, and ordered the trial to restart with a new panel of judges. The trial originally began in March and heard testimony from nearly 50 witnesses, including Maradona's daughters, with the defendants facing prison terms of 8 to 25 years if convicted. Prosecutors allege the medical team provided grossly negligent home care after Maradona's brain surgery, contributing to his death from heart failure and pulmonary edema. The decision to restart the trial reflects broad consensus among prosecution, plaintiffs, and defense that the proceedings were compromised and require a fresh start.