An Argentine court has declared a mistrial in the negligence case concerning the death of soccer legend Diego Maradona. This development follows the resignation of Judge Julieta Makintach, who stepped down due to controversy over her involvement in a documentary about the trial.
The trial involves seven medical professionals accused of failing to provide adequate care to Maradona during his final days. The case has drawn significant national and international attention since it began more than two months ago.
Judge Makintach resigned after the prosecutor presented a teaser for the documentary titled Divine Justice, which chronicles events following Maradona's death and features Makintach prominently. Citing conflict of interest concerns, she stated she had "no choice" but to withdraw from the case.
With the departure of one of the three judges overseeing the trial, the court faced the option of appointing a replacement or restarting the trial altogether. The court opted for the latter, effectively nullifying all prior proceedings and restarting the trial from the beginning. However, no timeline has been provided for when the new trial will commence.
Diego Maradona, who famously led Argentina to victory in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, died on November 25, 2020, shortly after surgery for a brain hematoma. The trial aims to determine whether negligence by his medical team contributed to his death at age 60.
