BUENOS AIRES: Four years after the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, seven healthcare professionals will go on trial next week accused of negligence during his final days.

More than 100 witnesses, including members of Maradona’s family and doctors who tended to him down the years, will take the stand over the course of the four-month trial, which starts Tuesday in the Buenos Aires suburb of San Isidro.

The seven defendants risk between eight and 25 years in jail if convicted.

Diego Armando Maradona died on Nov 25, 2020 at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot, after decades battling cocaine and alcohol addictions.

He was found dead in bed in a rented house in an exclusive Buenos Aires neighborhood where he was brought after being discharged from hospital two weeks after surgery.

He was found to have died of a heart attack.

The night nurse said he had seen some “warning signs” but had “received orders not to wake him up.”

Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Diaz, medical coordinator Nancy Forlini, nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni, doctor Pedro Pablo Di Spagna and nurse Ricardo Almiro will all stand trial next week.

Another nurse, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, asked to be tried by jury separately. Her trial is set for July.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2025