A dramatic twist has shaken the trial of seven health professionals accused of negligence in the death of soccer legend Diego Maradona. A court in Argentina declared a mistrial after one of the judges, Julieta Makintach, stepped down amid criticism over her involvement in a documentary about the case. The decision was made after allegations emerged that she had been secretly filmed by the documentarians while overseeing the trial.
Makintach’s withdrawal led to the two remaining judges deciding to restart the entire case from scratch. Judge Maximiliano Savarino stated that Makintach did not act impartially, causing harm to both the prosecution and defense.
The trial originally began in March but had already gone through 21 sessions before the mistrial was declared. Maradona died in November 2020 after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. His medical team is being charged with simple homicide for allegedly allowing him to recover at home.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys had called for the trial to be annulled due to Makintach’s involvement in the documentary series, which was criticized as an “international embarrassment” for Argentina’s judiciary. The Chamber of Appeals and Guarantees will now hold a new draw to appoint a fresh panel of judges who will conduct the trial from the beginning.
The case has captivated the nation and soccer world for over two months, with Maradona’s family members in attendance. Two of his daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, were visibly upset after hearing the news, while Jana expressed her anger towards the justice system. The trial is expected to continue once a new panel of judges is appointed.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/29/diego-maradona-argentina-mistrial