A new criminal trial opened on Tuesday in San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires, to examine the death of football icon Diego Maradona. The proceedings come ten months after the first trial was thrown out when judge Julieta Makintach was found to have participated in an illicit documentary that recorded courtroom scenes without authorization. Maradona, who died in November 2020 at age 60 while recuperating from surgery for a brain clot, is alleged to have been the victim of gross negligence by his seven‑member medical team. Forensic experts say he succumbed to heart failure and acute pulmonary edema two weeks after the operation. The renewed case will call roughly 120 witnesses, including Maradona's daughters Dalma, Gianinna and Jana and his former partner Veronica Ojeda, who were present at the opening. Defense attorney Francisco Oneto asked that the entire trial be televised live, rather than only the first day and the verdict. The doctors, psychologists and nurses face homicide charges with possible intent and could receive sentences ranging from eight to 25 years. Their lawyer Vadim Mischanchuk told Radio Con Vos that a "malicious criminal plan to kill Maradona" has been ruled out. The trial is slated to run at least until July. Maradona's death had sparked nationwide mourning, with tens of thousands lining up to view his body at the presidential palace.
The most striking element of the case is the judge's misconduct, which derailed the original trial and forced a costly restart. Julieta Makintach's involvement in a secret documentary not only breached courtroom protocol but also exposed vulnerabilities in Argentina's judicial oversight, especially in high‑profile matters.
The scandal unfolds against a backdrop of intense public emotion over Maradona's passing and a legal system already under scrutiny for handling celebrity cases. With the new trial set to hear about 120 witnesses and the defense pushing for full live broadcast, the process will test whether procedural integrity can be restored after the earlier mistrial.
For ordinary Argentinians, the delay means a prolonged wait for closure and accountability. If the medical team is convicted, families of patients nationwide may see a precedent for holding health professionals criminally responsible for negligence, potentially reshaping expectations of medical care.
The episode reflects a broader pattern of institutional fragility when fame intersects with law, underscoring the need for transparent procedures to sustain public confidence in the justice system.
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