The retrial of Diego Maradona’s medical team commenced in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, more than a year after the original trial collapsed due to a judicial scandal. Seven doctors who treated the late Argentine football legend during his final illness now face charges of homicide with possible intent. Maradona passed away in 2020 at the age of 60 from heart failure and pulmonary edema while recovering from brain surgery in Buenos Aires.
Prosecutors allege that the conditions of Maradona’s convalescence were “grossly negligent” and accuse the medical team of continuing a course of action despite being aware that it could lead to his death. In contrast, the defense argues that Maradona, who struggled with alcohol and cocaine addiction, died of natural causes.
The retrial follows the collapse of the first trial last year, which occurred when a judge allegedly permitted unauthorized cameras into the courtroom for a documentary in which she was involved. The seven defendants, all of whom deny the allegations, face potential prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years if convicted.
This case has garnered significant attention both in Argentina and internationally, given Maradona’s status as one of football’s greatest players. The outcome of the retrial is expected to have a lasting impact on medical accountability in high-profile cases and the management of celebrity patients in Argentina.
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