DIEGO Maradona’s medical team could face 25 years in prison as the football legends homicide trial starts today in Buenos Aires.
The Argentinian star died after suffering a heart attack at his home in 2020 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot.
Eight members of the World Cup winner’s medical team have been accused of negligence that contributed to his death at 60 years old.
Each defendant has denied wrongdoing but risks between eight and 25 years in prison if convicted of “homicide with possible intent”.
His neurologist Leopoldo Luque, who performed the surgery, is one of the seven people facing trial.
Psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Diaz, doctor Nancy Forlini, clinical physician Pedro Pablo Di Spagna, and nurses Mariano Perroni and Ricardo Almiron, will also appear in court.
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The day nurse Gisela Dahiana Madrid, who found Maradona dead just two weeks after his surgery, has asked to be tried by jury separately.
More than 100 witnesses, including members of Maradona’s family and his doctors over the years, are expected to take the stand in the long-delayed trial in the Buenos Aires suburb of San Isidro.
Although the icon struggled with obesity, alcoholism and drug abuse, 20 medical experts stated in 2021 that his death could have been avoided with better treatment.
Prosecutors have accused the medical team of pushing for Maradona to receive home care, which proved “reckless” and “totally deficient.”
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The night nurse said he had seen “warning signs” but had received orders “not to wake” Maradona.
Prosecutors allege the footballer was abandoned to his fate for a “prolonged, agonizing period” before his death.
The football legends’ family claimed that leaked audio and text messages show that the star’s health was in imminent danger, said Mario Baudry, a lawyer for Maradona’s son Dieguito.
He said the messages showed the medical team’s strategy was to try and ensure that Diego’s daughters did not intervene “because if they did, they (the medical staff) would lose their money.”
The expert 2021 report that ignited this trial questioned why the football legend was released from hospital so soon after his surgery, saying: “The home confinement did not comply with norms and protocols.”
The rented home Maradona stayed in notably did not have a defibrillator.
This huge trial is expected to last until July.
Vadim Mischanchuk, lawyer for psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, said he was “very optimistic” of an acquittal, arguing his client was in charge of Maradona’s mental, not physical health.
The World Cup winner’s death plunged Argentina into mourning during the pandemic.
Tens of thousands of people queued to bid farewell to the former Boca Juniors and Napoli striker as his body lay in state in the presidential palace.
Locals have remained heartbroken over the World Cup winner’s tragic death.
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pensioner Hilda Pereira told AFP: “All society needs to know… what really happened, who abandoned him… and whoever is responsible must pay the price.”
Maradona “did not deserve to die as he died, alone,” she added, her voice quavering.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
