A new trial into the death of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona is set to begin on Tuesday in Argentina, with seven members of his medical team facing charges of negligent homicide.
The proceedings, taking place in San Isidro near Buenos Aires, come nearly a year after the initial trial was halted and declared a mistrial.
The earlier trial collapsed after one of the presiding judges stepped down over a breach of judicial conduct, forcing the case to restart from the beginning.
This time, the court is expected to hear testimony from nearly 100 witnesses as it examines the circumstances surrounding Maradona’s death in November 2020.
Those on trial include Maradona’s personal physician, psychiatrist, psychologist and nursing staff, all accused of failing to provide adequate care during his recovery from brain surgery at home.
Prosecutors argue that the conditions in which Maradona was treated were grossly inadequate, previously describing the setting as a “theatre of horror” where proper medical attention was not given.
The charges stem from a 2021 medical board review, which concluded that the team acted in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless” manner.
However, the defendants have strongly denied the allegations, maintaining that Maradona’s death was unavoidable due to his long history of health complications, including struggles with addiction.
An eighth defendant, a nurse involved in Maradona’s care, will face a separate jury trial at a later date.
The retrial is expected to revisit key evidence already presented in the earlier proceedings, including medical records, audio recordings and witness testimonies from family members.
Maradona’s children and former wife were among those who testified previously, highlighting the deeply personal nature of the case.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, Maradona led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup and remains a towering figure in global sport.
His death at the age of 60 sparked national mourning and raised difficult questions about the care he received in his final days.
As the new trial begins, the court will seek to determine whether medical negligence played a role in the loss of one of football’s most celebrated figures.
