The long-awaited trial into the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has ended in a mistrial after a judge resigned over an ethics breach, causing fresh controversy in a case that has drawn international attention.
Maradona, one of football’s most iconic figures, died in November 2020 at the age of 60, just days after undergoing brain surgery. The cause of death was heart failure, but investigations raised questions about the care he received during recovery. Seven medical professionals, including his doctors and nurses, were later charged with negligent homicide.
The trial, which began earlier this year, was meant to determine whether the medical team contributed to Maradona’s death through poor treatment and a failure to properly monitor his condition. Prosecutors argued that the team should have known the risks involved and acted sooner.
But the case was abruptly derailed on Tuesday when Judge Julieta Makintach, one of three judges overseeing the trial in Buenos Aires, stepped down. Her resignation came after a video surfaced showing her taking part in a documentary being filmed inside the courthouse—including footage from her office.
Judicial authorities and legal experts quickly flagged the judge’s actions as a serious violation of court ethics and a threat to the impartiality of the case. Her presence in the film raised doubts about the fairness of the proceedings, leading to the declaration of a mistrial.
“This is all a great embarrassment,” defence lawyer Miguel Angel Pierri said while addressing reporters outside the court. He and others expressed frustration that such a high-profile case could be halted so abruptly over what they described as “avoidable misconduct.”
As of Thursday, a new trial date has not been announced, and no replacement judges have been named. The delay means further uncertainty for both the accused and the family of Maradona, who have been seeking justice for nearly four years.
The defendants had denied wrongdoing, insisting they followed medical protocols and that Maradona’s condition was more fragile than publicly known. If found guilty, they could have faced between 8 and 25 years in prison under Argentina’s legal system.
Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, remains a national hero. His sudden death triggered mass mourning in Argentina and shocked fans around the world. The case also highlighted deeper issues in the country’s healthcare and legal systems.
With the trial now in limbo, questions remain over whether justice will be served—or if the truth behind Maradona’s death will ever fully come to light.
