BUENOS AIRES — Argentine prosecutors have formally requested prison sentences of up to 12 years for the medical team that treated football legend Diego Maradona prior to his death, condemning their care as “chaotic” and severely negligent.
During closing arguments on Thursday, the heaviest penalty—12 years—was requested for Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician. Prosecutors sought sentences ranging from four to 10 years for the remaining six defendants, which include a psychiatrist, nurses, and medical coordinators.
The seven health professionals have been on trial since April for their roles in Maradona’s death on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60. They are facing charges of homicide with dolo eventual—a legal classification applied when an individual knows their actions could cause fatal harm but proceeds regardless. A conviction on these charges carries a prison term of eight to 25 years.
“Abandoned to His Fate”
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari told the court that the medical team’s severe disorganisation left the ailing icon helpless, effectively “abandoning him to his fate.” The prosecution argued that the defendants actively neglected their professional duties and took actions that directly contradicted sound medical practices.
At the heart of the prosecution’s case is the controversial decision to allow Maradona to recover from brain surgery in a rented private home in Tigre, outside Buenos Aires, rather than in a specialised medical facility. Prosecutors highlighted that the home lacked essential life-saving equipment, including a proper hospital bed and a defibrillator, and did not have an ambulance on standby.
Medical experts testified that Maradona’s caregivers failed to act on glaring warning signs in the days leading up to his passing. The football icon suffered from severe fluid retention, a racing heartbeat, and laboured breathing—symptoms that went unaddressed. Assistant prosecutor Cosme Iribarren noted that the fatal outcome was foreseeable long before his final day.
During the proceedings, prosecutors presented graphic photographs of Maradona’s heavily swollen body in bed. His three daughters, who were in attendance, reportedly covered their faces as the images were displayed in court.
Defence Denies Wrongdoing
All seven defendants have vehemently denied the accusations. The defence maintains that Maradona’s death from heart failure and acute pulmonary oedema was a tragic but unforeseeable event, arguing it was the result of natural causes exacerbated by his lifelong struggles with addiction.
Luque, who previously told the court he was innocent and deeply regretted Maradona’s passing, argued that he was not the primary decision-maker regarding the home recovery setup and challenged several findings of the autopsy. However, prosecutors countered his claims by playing WhatsApp voice messages between Luque and Maradona’s private secretary, suggesting the doctor manoeuvred to secure the daughters’ approval for home treatment.
The current trial follows a collapsed proceeding last year, which was derailed after it was revealed that one of the presiding judges had secretly participated in a documentary about the case. Closing statements are expected to continue for another two weeks, with a final verdict to be delivered at a later date.
A Legacy Beyond the Pitch
Beyond his unparalleled achievements on the football pitch, Maradona was celebrated globally for his fierce anti-imperialist political stances. An outspoken critic of US foreign policy, he counted progressive Latin American leaders like Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, Cuba’s Fidel Castro, and Bolivia’s Evo Morales among his close friends.
He was also a staunch advocate for Palestine. In 2012, he declared himself the “biggest fan” of the Palestinian people, and in 2014, he fiercely condemned the Israeli aggression on Gaza. His solidarity continued throughout his life, famously embracing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2018 and telling him, “My heart is Palestinian.”
Reference: Al-Mayadeen