(Reuters) – In Argentina, eight medical professionals who made up Diego Maradona’s care team have been accused of culpable homicide over the events leading up to the former footballer’s death on November 25 2020, age 60, after he had undergone brain surgery for a blood clot days earlier.
If convicted of a crime similar to involuntary manslaughter, they could face prison sentences in Argentina of between eight and 25 years. The trial of seven starts on March 11. Another nurse will be tried by jury separately at a later date.
The death of Maradona, one of the greatest soccer players of all time, sparked an outpouring of grief in Argentina and around the world, and led to angry finger pointing by fans and family about who was to blame.
WHAT DOES THE TRIAL INVOLVE?
More than 100 witnesses, including doctors and family members, will take the stand beginning on March 11 in a trial expected to last four months in the Buenos Aires suburb of San Isidro.
A three-judge appeals court will hear arguments from the prosecution which is due to present more than 120,000 messages and audio recordings from private conversations between those responsible for Maradona’s wellbeing, including his neurologist, psychiatrist and nurses.
WHAT DO THE DEFENDANTS SAY?
All of the medical professionals deny providing “reckless” and “deficient” treatment to Maradona and deny any wrongdoing. They described the former World Cup winner as a difficult patient who resisted treatment. Maradona battled cocaine and alcohol addiction for decades.
WHO BROUGHT FORWARD THE CHARGES?
Allegations that negligence by his health team contributed to Maradona’s death are being brought by his family, namely his son, Dieguito and daughters Dalma and Gianinna. Their lawyers claim leaked audio and text messages show that he was in imminent danger and the medical team’s strategy was to try to ensure that his family did not intervene.
The accusations emerged in 2021 after the prosecutor’s office appointed a medical board to investigate the death of Maradona and concluded his medical team acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner”.
LIKELY OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL?
An autopsy found Maradona died of natural causes, a heart attack, so legal experts say there remains the possibility that the court will not be able to establish liability beyond reasonable doubt and that most of the defendants could be acquitted. The lawyer for the psychiatrist accused said he was optimistic of an acquittal given his client was in charge of Maradona’s mental, not physical, health.
(Reporting by Lucinda Elliott, editing by Ed Osmond)
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