The trial over the death of Diego Armando Maradona has begun with a strong statement from prosecutor Patricio Ferrari, who described the football star’s home hospitalization as “disastrous” and accused his medical team of being “improvised.” During the first hearing, Ferrari presented an image of Maradona on the day of his death, November 25, 2020, at his residence in Tigre. The photo, showing the former footballer lying in bed, was displayed as evidence of alleged abandonment and negligence in his care.

“This is how Maradona died,” the prosecutor said as he exhibited the image before the Oral Criminal Court (TOC) No. 3 of San Isidro. According to the prosecution, between November 11 and November 25, 2020, Maradona remained at home without full use of his mental faculties and without the ability to make decisions about his health. Ferrari argued that the lack of proper medical attention directly contributed to his death.

A Medical Team on Trial

The main defendants in the trial are neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who face charges of “simple homicide with eventual intent.” Alongside them, nurse Ricardo Almirón, his supervisor Mariano Perroni, clinical doctor Pedro Pablo Di Spagna, Swiss Medical coordinator Nancy Edith Forlini, and psychologist Carlos Díaz will also be tried.

Prosecutor Ferrari claimed that the lack of monitoring and preventive measures turned Maradona’s home hospitalization into a “reckless and deficient” process. According to the accusation, the healthcare professionals in charge failed to take the necessary actions to prevent his deterioration, leading to an outcome that, in the prosecutor’s words, “could have been completely avoidable.”

A Death Surrounded by Controversy

Maradona died at the age of 60 due to “cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to acute pulmonary edema caused by acute left ventricular failure.” However, the prosecution maintains that his death was not a random event but the result of a series of negligent actions and omissions by his medical team.

Fernando Burlando, the lawyer representing Dalma and Giannina Maradona, also made strong statements about the case: “What they did was murder. He was placed in an inappropriate facility, without proper care conditions, and left abandoned.”

According to Ferrari, more than 100 witnesses will be called during the trial, which could last up to five months. Among them are doctors who attended Maradona in his final days, family members, and other professionals involved in his care.

The judicial process aims to clarify responsibilities in the death of one of the greatest football icons in history. If found guilty, the defendants could face sentences ranging from 8 to 25 years in prison, according to the Penal Code.