"'Soccer Legend' Maradona Was Murdered"... Trial Begins for Medical Staff Over 'Reckless Treatment Allegations'

First Trial for Murder by Implied Intent
"Reckless Treatment... No One Fulfilled Their Role"
Defendants Argue, "Treatment Was in Consultation with Family"

Argentina's football star, the late Diego Maradona. Maradona Instagram

Amid allegations that Argentine football star Diego Maradona was effectively killed due to the medical staff's inadequate response, the first trial of the medical personnel charged with murder by implied intent was held. Maradona's fans shouted outside the courtroom, demanding severe punishment for the defendants.

On the 11th (local time), according to Argentine daily La Naci?n and others, the San Isidro Criminal Court No. 3 in Buenos Aires Province conducted the first trial for seven medical staff members charged with murder by implied intent related to Maradona's treatment in 2020. Patricio Ferrari, prosecutor at the San Isidro District Prosecutor's Office, revealed a photo of Maradona lying in bed shortly before his death. In the photo, a tube was attached to his mouth, and his abdomen was abnormally swollen.

Prosecutor Ferrari stated, "We are witnessing a scene of a crime with Maradona as the victim," and claimed, "The defendants were accomplices who staged a theater of horror at Maradona's home." He added, "The treatment the deceased received was catastrophically reckless and unprecedented," pointing out, "No one properly fulfilled their respective roles."

Maradona's two daughters (wearing sunglasses in the front row) arrived at the court. Photo by San Isidro EPA·Yonhap News

Earlier, Maradona passed away from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema while recovering at home after brain surgery in November 2020. The prosecution conducted an investigation for a year and concluded that the medical staff treating Maradona failed to take proper measures. They explained that there was also an expert medical committee opinion stating, "Signs that Maradona was in critical condition were ignored, and he likely endured extreme pain for at least 12 hours."

However, the defendants' lawyers argued that "the treatment methods and procedures were all carried out in consultation with Maradona's family," denying any intentional murder. Outside the courtroom that day, Maradona's fans called for "justice to be served" and urged severe punishment for the defendants. Some fans held placards displaying Maradona's jersey number 10 and the Spanish word 'Dios,' meaning God. Media reports stated that if the defendants are found guilty, the maximum sentence could be 25 years, and considering the scale of witnesses called (around 120), the trial proceedings are expected to continue for the next 4 to 5 months.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.