The high-profile trial of seven healthcare workers accused of negligence in the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona was abruptly derailed Thursday, after a federal court declared a mistrial due to a scandal involving one of the presiding judges.
The decision resets months of proceedings and testimony, throwing the trial’s future into uncertainty. The judges ruled that the entire case will be retried at an unspecified later date, citing compromised judicial integrity.
The mistrial follows the resignation of Judge Julieta Makintach, who came under fire earlier this week for her involvement in a documentary series titled Divine Justice, chronicling the aftermath of Maradona’s death and the ensuing legal drama. The trailer for the series, which features dramatic shots of Makintach walking courthouse halls juxtaposed with clips of Maradona’s football glory, prompted a firestorm of criticism and accusations of judicial misconduct.
The prosecutor submitted the trailer as evidence, arguing Makintach had breached ethics by permitting filming inside closed courtrooms. With the scandal dominating national headlines, the judge stepped down Tuesday, stating she had “no choice.”
On Thursday, Judge Maximiliano Savarino formally declared the mistrial, stating, “Judge Makintach did not act impartially. Her conduct caused harm to both the plaintiffs and the defense. The only person responsible is the recused judge.”
Tears flowed in the courtroom as Maradona’s daughters, Gianinna and Dalma, reacted to the news. The original trial, which began March 11, was expected to last through July and had already hosted 21 emotional hearings and dozens of witnesses.
The case centers on the alleged medical negligence of Maradona’s care team in the days before his death on November 25, 2020. Maradona, 60, died from cardiac arrest while recovering from brain surgery at a private residence. Prosecutors say the soccer icon was abandoned in a poorly monitored home environment, despite clear medical warnings.
The accused, including Maradona’s primary physician Leopoldo Luque, his psychologist, psychiatrist, and several nurses, face charges of culpable homicide, akin to involuntary manslaughter. They deny wrongdoing, arguing that Maradona was a notoriously difficult patient who resisted treatment.
Legal experts say a new panel of judges will be selected by lottery “within a reasonable period of time,” though no formal timeline has been announced.
Maradona remains a national icon, known as much for his dazzling football career, including leading Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, as for his tumultuous personal life. His controversial “Hand of God” goal and rags-to-riches story have only added to his legend in Argentina and around the world.
