Maradona trial: prison sentences requested for almost the entire medical team

Prison for all, or almost: within a few years, the prosecution and the civil parties came together in the 2020 trial of Diego Maradona's death to consider that the negligence of the medical team in his last days of life deserved detention, up to 16 years.

The prosecution's requests, followed by the civil parties' pleas, have for the past week revealed among the accused a trio of healthcare professionals who were more influential, more decisive than others, in short, more responsible for the negligence surrounding the legendary footballer.

At the time, Maradona's trusted doctor, neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, 44, medical coordinator Nancy Forlini, 57, and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, 41, saw the heaviest sentences sought against them.

Twelve, ten, and eight years respectively, prosecutor Patricio Ferrari had requested on Thursday. Fifteen years (for Luque), twelve (Forlini), and ten (Cosachov) were demanded on Wednesday by Fernando Burlando, the lawyer for Maradona's eldest daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, by far the most vehement in what he called an "assassination." Before him on Tuesday, Mario Baudry, the lawyer for Dieguito, the star's youngest son, had requested up to sixteen years for Luque.

"They killed a mythological hero," declared Mr. Burlando. "Diego Armando Maradona was assassinated (...) And for this task, someone summoned a team of medical professionals to do it slowly but just as cruelly," he accused, without elaborating on the "someone."

"They ignored signs, symptoms that would worry any human being. They did absolutely nothing on countless occasions. The indifference was brutal," he continued. "A deadly cycle."

Maradona died at the age of 60 on November 25, 2020, from a cardiorespiratory crisis coupled with pulmonary edema. He was found dead in his bed at a residence in Tigre (north of Buenos Aires) rented for his convalescence after minor neurosurgery.

Since mid-April, seven healthcare professionals have been on trial in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires, for potential fatal negligence during this two-week home hospitalization.

Only one of the seven defendants found favor with both the prosecution and the civil parties: the doctor Pedro di Spagna, who had only seen Maradona once during his fatal convalescence. All of them requested his acquittal.

- "A prison disguised as care" –

Another case, however, caused division: that of psychologist and addiction specialist Carlos Diaz, who had helped Maradona wean himself off alcohol. The prosecution had requested a five-year sentence for him, but Dieguito's lawyer asked for 12 years, while the lawyer for one of Maradona's daughters, Jana, sought his acquittal, provoking the ire of her sisters Dalma and Gianinna.

The defendants were tried for homicide with implied malice, meaning negligence committed knowing it could lead to death. This charge was ultimately upheld by the prosecution against only the trio of Luque, Forlini, and Cosachov.

Against the others, she retained the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, thus requesting four years against the nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni and the nurse Ricardo Almiron.

Before Mr. Burlando, Pablo Jurado, lawyer for Rita, Claudia and Ana, three of Maradona's sisters, had stated, regarding the three main defendants, that "Maradona died because of what they did not do".

"This is not the story of a sudden death, but the chronicle of a death foretold, predictable and avoidable," he declared, particularly blaming medical coordinator Forlini.

She "was supposed to organize home hospitalization, and failed to do so", "did not check the conditions of the accommodation", "did not provide the medical equipment", "caused a disconnect between all the professionals", he listed among other things.

One question, however, remained unanswered, never really explored in six months of trial: the why, the genesis of what the prosecutor described as a "chaotic" medical organization, a "quasi-anarchic structure" around the "most famous patient in the world," ultimately left in a "situation of abandonment."

Mr. Burlando briefly mentioned an "economic interest" in keeping Maradona hospitalized at home—a "house arrest disguised as medical care"—rather than in a treatment center as experts had recommended. But here again, he did not elaborate.

Following the civil parties' arguments, the defense will present its case next week. The verdict is then expected to be reserved until a later date.