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What was expected to be a landmark trial over the death of football legend Diego Maradona has come to a screeching halt after one of the presiding judges appeared in a television documentary about the very same case. The judicial misstep led to a mistrial declaration and forced Argentina's legal system into an embarrassing reset.
The trial, which began in March and was slated to continue through July, aimed to determine whether seven members of Maradona's medical team were guilty of negligent homicide. Charges stemmed from the football icon's death in 2020 following a heart attack while recovering from brain surgery at home. If found guilty, the defendants—including a neurosurgeon, a doctor, and a night nurse—faced up to 25 years in prison.
However, drama worthy of a courtroom thriller unfolded when Judge Julieta Makintach was accused of participating in a documentary series titled Divine Justice. Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari sharply criticized Makintach's role, alleging she acted "like an actress and not a judge." The situation reached boiling point in court when a trailer for the documentary was played, prompting a defense lawyer to loudly denounce the footage as "trash."
Makintach ultimately recused herself from the trial, acknowledging the controversy had undermined the proceedings. Her decision forced the court to annul the ongoing trial, nullifying the testimony of nearly 50 witnesses, including Maradona's daughters and former partner. The emotional toll was evident in the courtroom as family members broke down watching the controversial footage.
The court has not set a date for the new trial, nor has it nominated a replacement panel of judges. This development has fueled public frustration and delayed justice for one of the most polarizing deaths in sports history.
The defense has maintained that Maradona refused further medical intervention and insisted on returning home too soon after his surgery. The collapse of the trial now raises concerns about judicial impartiality and the broader ethics surrounding media involvement in active legal cases.
As the world watches, Argentina faces the challenge of restoring integrity to a trial that was supposed to bring closure to the legacy of a national hero. For now, justice for Maradona remains on an indefinite pause.
