Argentine Court Delays Trial of Medical Professionals in Maradona’s Death to March 2025

An Argentine court has postponed the criminal trial of seven out of eight medical professionals accused of negligence in the death of football legend Diego Maradona. Originally scheduled for next month after a previous delay in May, the trial is now set to begin on March 11, 2025. The trial focuses on the medical team responsible for Maradona’s care following his brain surgery in November 2020.

Maradona, who had battled cocaine and alcohol addictions for decades, died of a heart attack at age 60 while recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot. He was found dead in his bed two weeks after the operation, in a rented home in an upscale Buenos Aires neighborhood, where he was receiving home care following his discharge from the hospital.

In 2023, an Argentine appeals court ruled that neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, and six other medical professionals, including nurses, would face trial for their roles in Maradona’s death. The court rejected appeals to dismiss the charges, which include accusations of providing “reckless” and “deficient” treatment.

One of the nurses, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, has requested a separate jury trial, which will proceed as planned on October 2, 2024. The defendants face potential prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years, with prosecutors arguing that Maradona might have survived if he had received proper care in a medical facility.

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