Six months of testimony have brought the case back to its starkest accusation: that Diego Maradona, recovering at home in the final days of his life, was left inside a medical system too disorganised to protect him.
Key takeaways
- Prosecutors said the evidence has shown a chaotic medical structure around Maradona during his recovery.
- Seven health professionals have been on trial since April over alleged fatal negligence.
- Maradona was receiving home hospital care in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, in November 2020.
- The defendants include a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist and nurses, and could face prison terms of up to 25 years.
Prosecution says core case remains unchanged
In closing arguments on Thursday, chief prosecutor Patricio Ferrari said the central accusation had survived the long hearings intact. He argued that Maradona had been placed in a state of abandonment by the team responsible for his care, effectively left to his own fate before his death in 2020.
Ferrari described the arrangements surrounding the former Argentina captain as a complete breakdown in organisation. He said an inexperienced group had increased the danger beyond an acceptable level, with some members showing indifference to the risks involved.
The prosecution’s arguments are expected to continue for several hours as the trial enters a decisive phase.
Seven medical professionals face possible sentences
The seven defendants are accused of potential negligence in the period when Maradona was being treated at home after his recovery process. Their trial began in April and has examined the medical supervision in place at the Tigre residence, north of the Argentine capital.
Those standing trial include medical and mental-health professionals as well as nursing staff. If convicted, they each face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
