New trial to start in Argentina over death of football legend Diego Maradona

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maradona-diego/2oVZGPyM/"]Maradona[/a], considered one of the world's greatest players ever, died in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery at a private residence.[/p][p]He died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema - a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs - two weeks after going under the knife.[/p][p]His seven-person medical team were indicted over the conditions of his convalescence in the northern Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre, described by prosecutors as grossly negligent.[/p][p]But two and a half months into their trial, after hours of sometimes tearful testimony from witnesses, including Maradona's children, the proceedings came to a halt.[/p][p]The trial was annulled in May 2025 after it emerged that one of the judges overseeing the trial was involved in a documentary about the case, potentially breaking ethics rules.[/p][p]The judge, Julieta Makintach, was later impeached.[/p][embed guid="4e29093e-4962-40e6-b9b0-a6b90833bae5" url="https://x.com/CONMEBOL/status/1516485872169979914" social-type="twitter" /][p]The new trial, which will hear from some 120 witnesses, will again seek to determine if Maradona's medical team is responsible for his death.[/p][p]Seven health care professionals - doctors, psychologists, and nurses - who were treating him at the time of his death are accused of homicide with possible intent - pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death.[/p][p]They risk prison terms of between eight and 25 years if convicted.[/p][p]The defense maintains the larger-than-life Maradona, who battled cocaine and alcohol addictions, died of natural causes.[/p][p][b]"If there's one thing that has been ruled out, it's a malicious criminal plan to kill Maradona. Anyone who continues to maintain that is cruel to the family and the accused,"[/b] Vadim Mischanchuk, lawyer for psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, told Radio Con Vos on Sunday.[/p][p]News of the death of the 1986 World Cup champion brought hundreds of thousands of Argentines onto the streets in mourning in the midst of the Covid pandemic.[/p][p]The trial is expected to last until July.[/p]