The trial of seven Argentine health professionals accused of killing football legend Diego Maradona is still pending due to concerns about a judge’s lack of impartiality more than two months after it began.
The trial was postponed last week after defense attorneys claimed the judge’s involvement in a case-related documentary might have been in breach of her obligations, influence-peddling, and even bribery.
The case might be thrown out due to Julieta Makintach’s possible removal as one of the three judges in charge of the case.
After decades of battles, Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot.
Two weeks after being exposed to the knife, he died of heart failure and acute pulmonary embolism, and his day nurse discovered him dead in bed.
Read more about Maradona’s death trial suspended following complaints about the judge.
San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires, is the subject of a trial for Maradona’s medical team because of his private home’s setting.
The football legend’s care in his final days has been called grossly negligent by the prosecution.
Tuesday will be the trial’s second day, and at least one lawyer is expected to request Makintach’s recusal.
If she is removed from the case, a new panel of judges must be appointed to replace her or the trial must start fresh.
The entire world is mentioning Argentine justice as the worst example of a scandal of this magnitude, said Fernando Burlando, a daughter’s attorney, last week on local radio.
The alleged violation of a trial ban involves the courtroom’s use of cameras in violation of the ban.
Although Makintach had denied involvement in any filming, footage that was allegedly shared over the weekend by Argentine media showed her being allegedly being interviewed by a crew before the trial started.
‘Compromised’
In a deposition uncovered by AFP, a producer claimed Makintach was being filming a documentary about the trial itself, not Makintach.
Burlando objected to the explanation, saying he would seek Makintach’s recusal on Tuesday.
He claimed that she behaved more like an actress than a judge.
“Everyone now feels that this (trial) is compromised,” said Veronica Ojeda, Maradona’s ex-partner’s attorney.
Starting fresh from scratch is the healthiest idea, he continued.
If found guilty of “homicide with possible intent,” which means following a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death, the defendants face prison sentences of eight to twenty years.
Instead of using a hospital, Maradona’s doctors’ decision to allow him to recuperate at home with little supervision and medical equipment has been the focus of the case thus far.
Gianinna, Maradona’s daughter, testified that her father’s carers had abandoned him and claimed that they appeared to care more about his well-being than his welfare.
Source: Channels TV
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