Argentine prosecutors in San Isidro requested prison sentences ranging from four to twelve years for members of Diego Maradona’s medical team, citing a chaotic and abandoned final convalescence that directly contributed to the football icon’s death in November 2020.
The Prosecution Demands Prison Terms at San Isidro Tribunal
During the opening of closing arguments on a Thursday in San Isidro, prosecutor Patricio Ferrari outlined the State’s case after a six-month trial. The prosecution divided the medical defendants into two distinct tiers of culpability regarding the final days of the 1986 World Cup champion.
Homicide Charges and the Division of Medical Culpability
Prosecutors requested sentences between eight and twelve years for three primary defendants, charging them with homicide with eventual intent—implying they committed negligence while knowing it could lead to death. Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque faces the heaviest proposed penalty of 12 years in prison alongside a 10-year ban from practicing medicine. The state argues Luque acted as Maradona’s trusted physician and main decision-maker, yet consistently chose to ignore obvious cardiac and pulmonary warning signs. Medical coordinator Nancy Forlini faces 10 years, while psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov faces 8 years under the same severe homicide classification.
Lighter Involuntary Manslaughter Requisitions for Secondary Staff
For three other members of the healthcare staff, prosecutors requested lesser involuntary manslaughter convictions. Psychologist Carlos Diaz faces five years in prison, while nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni and nurse Ricardo Almiron face four years each. Meanwhile, the seventh defendant, physician Pedro Di Spagna, faces no prison demand because court evidence showed he only visited Maradona once during his fatal home recovery and held no decision-making power over his treatment plan.
The trial examined the decision to manage Maradona’s post-operative recovery at a rented residence rather than a specialized medical facility. Prosecutors presented evidence that the home lacked proper medical equipment, including a medical bed, a defibrillator, intravenous lines, and a dedicated ambulance. Deputy prosecutor Cosme Iribarren emphasized that clinical warning signs—such as severe swelling, edema, shortness of breath, and tachycardia—were visible long before Maradona suffered a fatal cardiorespiratory arrest and pulmonary edema at age 60.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Maradona Medical Trial
When did Diego Maradona pass away and what was the official cause of death?
Diego Maradona died at the age of 60 on the morning of November 25, 2020, while recovering at a rented residence following routine neurosurgery. Medical examiners concluded he died from an acute cardiorespiratory crisis coupled with pulmonary edema.
What specific legal charges do the defendants face in Argentina?
The medical professionals face charges ranging from homicide with eventual intent to involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors argue that the defendants neglected a vulnerable patient and ignored obvious physiological warning signs that directly led to his fatal decline.
How long has the judicial process lasted in San Isidro?
The trial encompassing 45 separate evidentiary audiences spanned six months before moving into closing arguments and requisitions, which are scheduled to run across a two-week period ahead of a final judicial verdict.
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