Prosecutors seek up to 12 years for Maradona's medical team

Argentine prosecutors on Thursday asked for prison sentences of up to 12 years for the medical team that treated Diego Maradona before his death, describing their care of the football legend as “chaotic”.

Seven medical professionals have been on trial since April over Maradona’s death on November 25, 2020, while he was recovering from surgery for a blood clot on the brain, The Express Tribune reported, citing AFP. The defendants, including his chief doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist and nurses, deny the charges.

‘Abandoning him to his fate’

In his closing arguments, prosecutor Patricio Ferrai said the defendants’ “chaotic organisation” had left Maradona “in a helpless situation, abandoning him to his fate”. He accused them of having “breached their duties” and of failing to do what was required of them.

The sentences sought:

• 12 years for Maradona’s personal physician, Leopoldo Luque, the highest
• four to 10 years for the other defendants, who include a psychiatrist, a nurse and care coordinators

The defendants are charged under “dolo eventual”, a legal term meaning a person knew their actions could cause harm but carried on anyway.

How he died

Maradona, the star of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup win, died aged 60 of heart failure and acute pulmonary oedema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs, at a rented house in Tigre, a suburb of Buenos Aires, two weeks after his operation. He had a history of substance abuse.

The case has turned on whether the decision to let him recover in a private home rather than in hospital was negligent. Prosecutors pointed to the near-total lack of medical equipment at the house, including a hospital bed, a defibrillator and a quickly available ambulance.

Several medical experts told the court that his carers failed to react to warning signs, including oedema, a racing heart and difficulty breathing. “Diego Armando Maradona’s death clearly did not come out of nowhere: the signs of this fatal outcome began to appear long beforehand,” assistant prosecutor Cosme Iribarren said.

The defence

The health workers argue that Maradona’s death could not have been foreseen and that they did their jobs. Each has also played down their personal responsibility for his care.

Painful scenes in court

The prosecution again showed the court images of Maradona lying dead in bed with his stomach badly swollen. His three daughters, who were in court for the start of the closing arguments, covered their faces to avoid seeing them.

A second attempt at justice

The closing arguments are expected to last about two weeks, with a verdict to follow later. The first trial over Maradona’s death was annulled last year after two and a half months of hearings, when it emerged that one of the judges had taken part in a secret documentary about the case.

Outside the court building on Thursday, fans displayed flags bearing his image, a reminder of the hold he still has on Argentina nearly six years after his death.

This article draws on reporting by The Express Tribune and AFP.