The long-running case over Diego Maradona’s death is nearing its conclusion. A court in Argentina has set December 22 for a verdict on six healthcare professionals accused of negligence in the football legend’s final days.
The decision will come after six months of hearings and testimony from more than 70 witnesses. Maradona’s daughter, Dalma, made an emotional appeal as the proceedings ended on Thursday.
“I hope my father receives the justice he deserves, like anyone else,” she told the court.
Maradona died aged 60 in November 2020. His death shocked Argentina and prompted questions about the care he received while recovering from surgery.
A Doctor Declares His Innocence
Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal doctor and the main defendant, rejected the allegations against him.
“I am innocent,” Luque told the court.
His lawyers argued that he had been unfairly blamed for the footballer’s death. During closing arguments, they described him as a “scapegoat” and challenged the prosecution’s claim that Maradona’s death could have been anticipated.
Luque said he had cared deeply for the former Argentina captain, whom he described as both an idol and a friend.
The defence also presented audio recordings, scientific papers and footage of Maradona’s autopsy. The material reportedly angered members of the footballer’s family.
Questions Over Home Care
The case centres on whether Maradona should have been allowed to recover at a rented home rather than remain in hospital after neurosurgery.
He was found dead at the property in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, on November 25, 2020. The cause of death was heart failure accompanied by pulmonary oedema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs.
Prosecutors argued that the care arrangements were inadequate. They pointed to the absence of essential medical equipment, including a hospital bed and defibrillator, as well as the lack of an ambulance that could be reached quickly.
Medical experts who testified during the trial said warning signs, including swelling, a rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulties, had not been addressed appropriately.
The defence disputed the allegations. The court must now determine whether the actions or omissions of the accused amounted to criminal negligence.
Prosecutors Seek Prison Terms
Prosecutors sought prison sentences ranging from four to 12 years for six defendants. Luque faces the longest requested term, at 12 years.
The charges relate to alleged failures in the care provided before Maradona’s death. The accused have challenged the prosecution’s account, and no final ruling has yet been issued against the six defendants awaiting judgment.
One of the seven healthcare professionals initially involved, clinical physician Pedro Di Spagna, has already been acquitted. The remaining six are due to learn their fate on December 22.
A Football Icon’s Final Days
Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 and remains one of football’s most celebrated figures. His extraordinary talent was accompanied by years of public struggles with addiction and other health problems.
He had undergone surgery for a blood clot in his brain shortly before his death and was recovering at the Tigre residence.
His passing during the Covid-19 pandemic triggered an outpouring of grief across Argentina, where he was revered as a national sporting hero.
The verdict will not settle every question surrounding his final days. But it will determine whether any of the six healthcare professionals still facing trial are held criminally responsible for the care he received.
