In San Isidro, on the northern edge of Buenos Aires, the second trial over Diego Maradona’s death has reached its closing stage, with one doctor cleared and six remaining defendants now waiting for a ruling in December.
The Oral Criminal Court No. 7 ended hearings on Thursday, 22 October, six months after the renewed proceedings began. Judges Alberto Gaig, Alberto Ortolani and Pablo Rolón have moved into deliberations after hearing the case surrounding the death of the Argentina icon on 25 November 2020.
Clinical doctor Pedro Di Spagna was acquitted after prosecutors and all private complainants withdrew their case against him. The parties concluded that the evidence did not establish criminal responsibility for Maradona’s death.
Di Spagna had acted mainly as an intermediary and treated Maradona only once. He was not responsible for decisions over the former footballer’s treatment or for the continuation of home-based care. Prosecutors Cosme Iribarren and Patricio Ferrari found that his involvement had not added to the risk faced by the patient.
December verdict for six defendants
The court will deliver its verdict on 22 December, scheduled for noon in Argentina, or 9am in Mexico. Gaig said the scale of the evidence, the legal arguments and the exceptional public attention surrounding the proceedings required the judges to have sufficient time to assess the case.
The six defendants are neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, home-care coordinator Nancy Forlini, psychologist Carlos Díaz, nursing staff coordinator Mariano Perroni and nurse Ricardo Almirón.
Prosecutors and the complainants have requested differing penalties based on the responsibility they assign to each defendant. One requested sentence reportedly reached 16 years, although the individual concerned was not specified. The final decision on any convictions and punishments rests with the three judges.
A case restarted after the first hearing collapsed
Maradona’s daughters Dalma, Gianinna and Jana filed a complaint alleging simple homicide with eventual intent following his death. The first trial opened on 11 March 2025 but was halted after one of the judges was accused of attempting to make unauthorised recordings for a documentary.
The replacement trial began in April and has now concluded its evidentiary phase. For a figure whose career carried Argentina from Naples to Mexico City and the world stage, the legal reckoning over his final days is approaching its most consequential date.
