A fresh trial into the death of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona is set to commence on Tuesday, nearly a year after the initial proceedings were nullified following a judicial scandal.
Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, died in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recuperating from brain surgery at a private residence in Tigre, a suburb of Buenos Aires.
Medical reports attributed his death to heart failure and acute pulmonary oedema, a condition marked by fluid accumulation in the lungs, barely two weeks after undergoing surgery.
Seven members of his medical team were subsequently charged over the circumstances surrounding his post-operative care, which prosecutors described as grossly negligent.
However, the original trial collapsed in May 2025 after it was discovered that one of the presiding judges, Julieta Makintach, had participated in a documentary related to the case, raising ethical concerns. The judge was later impeached.
The new trial, expected to feature testimony from about 120 witnesses, will again examine whether the medical personnel responsible for Maradona’s care can be held criminally liable for his death.
The accused comprising doctors, nurses and a psychologist face charges of homicide with possible intent, a legal classification suggesting they pursued actions despite being aware of potential fatal consequences. If convicted, they risk prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
Defence lawyers, however, insist that Maradona’s death resulted from natural causes, pointing to his long-standing struggles with substance abuse and underlying health conditions.
Speaking ahead of the trial, Vadim Mischanchuk, counsel to psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, dismissed allegations of foul play, stating that claims of a deliberate plan to cause Maradona’s death were unfounded.
Maradona’s passing in 2020 triggered widespread grief across Argentina, with thousands of mourners defying COVID-19 restrictions to pay their last respects.
The trial is expected to run until July.
