Argentine prosecutors on Thursday asked a court to hand prison sentences of up to 12 years to the medical team that treated Diego Maradona before his death, describing the care he received as chaotic and negligent. The move opens the final stretch of a high-profile trial that began in April.
Seven health professionals have been standing trial in Buenos Aires over the death of the football legend, who died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema. They face charges of homicide with "dolo eventual" — a legal concept for a person who recognises that their conduct could cause harm but proceeds regardless. If convicted, they face between eight and 25 years in prison.
The sentences requested
The heaviest request, 12 years, targets neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's personal physician. Prosecutors sought 10 years for medical coordinator Nancy Forlini and eight years for psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov. Sentences of four to five years were requested for psychologist Carlos Diaz, nurse Ricardo Almiron and medical coordinator Mariano Perroni, along with bans on professional activity. The only defendant for whom an acquittal was requested was therapist Pedro Di Spagna.
Prosecution's closing arguments
In his closing arguments, prosecutor Patricio Ferrari said the defendants' "chaotic organisation" had left the ailing patient "in a helpless situation, abandoning him to his fate", and accused them of breaching their duties. Assistant prosecutor Cosme Iribarren told the court that "Diego Armando Maradona's death clearly did not come out of nowhere", saying the signs of the fatal outcome had appeared long beforehand.
A central issue in the case is whether allowing Maradona to convalesce in a private rented home in Tigre, a suburb of Buenos Aires, instead of in a hospital was negligent. Prosecutors cited the near-total absence of medical equipment — no hospital bed, no defibrillator, no quickly available ambulance — and pointed to unaddressed warning signs including edema, tachycardia and breathing difficulties. The prosecution also showed the court photographs of Maradona's body after death; his three daughters attended court on Thursday and covered their faces to avoid looking at the images.
The defence's position
The defendants have denied the allegations, arguing that Maradona's death could not have been foreseen and that they fulfilled their professional responsibilities. Each defendant has also sought to minimise their individual accountability for his care.
A trial already restarted once
The case has been long and turbulent. The original 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 participated in a secret documentary about the case. The prosecution's summation is expected to continue for approximately two weeks, with the verdict to be delivered at a later date.
Sources:
News18: Diego Maradona death trial — prosecutors seek sentences up to 12 years
Al Jazeera: Maradona death — prosecutors in Argentina seek sentences up to 12 years
LaPresse: Maradona — prosecutor's office seeks up to 12 years in prison for doctors
Seven health professionals have been standing trial in Buenos Aires over the death of the football legend, who died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema. They face charges of homicide with "dolo eventual" — a legal concept for a person who recognises that their conduct could cause harm but proceeds regardless. If convicted, they face between eight and 25 years in prison.
The sentences requested
The heaviest request, 12 years, targets neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's personal physician. Prosecutors sought 10 years for medical coordinator Nancy Forlini and eight years for psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov. Sentences of four to five years were requested for psychologist Carlos Diaz, nurse Ricardo Almiron and medical coordinator Mariano Perroni, along with bans on professional activity. The only defendant for whom an acquittal was requested was therapist Pedro Di Spagna.
Prosecution's closing arguments
In his closing arguments, prosecutor Patricio Ferrari said the defendants' "chaotic organisation" had left the ailing patient "in a helpless situation, abandoning him to his fate", and accused them of breaching their duties. Assistant prosecutor Cosme Iribarren told the court that "Diego Armando Maradona's death clearly did not come out of nowhere", saying the signs of the fatal outcome had appeared long beforehand.
A central issue in the case is whether allowing Maradona to convalesce in a private rented home in Tigre, a suburb of Buenos Aires, instead of in a hospital was negligent. Prosecutors cited the near-total absence of medical equipment — no hospital bed, no defibrillator, no quickly available ambulance — and pointed to unaddressed warning signs including edema, tachycardia and breathing difficulties. The prosecution also showed the court photographs of Maradona's body after death; his three daughters attended court on Thursday and covered their faces to avoid looking at the images.
The defence's position
The defendants have denied the allegations, arguing that Maradona's death could not have been foreseen and that they fulfilled their professional responsibilities. Each defendant has also sought to minimise their individual accountability for his care.
A trial already restarted once
The case has been long and turbulent. The original 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 participated in a secret documentary about the case. The prosecution's summation is expected to continue for approximately two weeks, with the verdict to be delivered at a later date.
Sources:
News18: Diego Maradona death trial — prosecutors seek sentences up to 12 years
Al Jazeera: Maradona death — prosecutors in Argentina seek sentences up to 12 years
LaPresse: Maradona — prosecutor's office seeks up to 12 years in prison for doctors
