“Je suis innocent”: Former Maradona doctor denies responsibility in football icon’s death
Leopoldo Luque, the former personal physician of Diego Maradona, stood before an Argentine court on Thursday and declared his innocence in the football legend’s 2020 death, expressing deep regret while rejecting any criminal responsibility.
“Je suis innocent, et que je regrette profondément sa mort,” Luque testified, using the French phrase that has become a refrain throughout the proceedings. The neurochirurgien is one of seven medical professionals on trial in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires, for alleged homicide with dol eventual – a legal term referring to negligence committed with awareness that it could lead to death.
The trial resumed this week after an initial attempt was abandoned ten months ago amid scandal over a secretly filmed documentary about the case. Luque and his co-defendants – a psychiatrist, psychologist, and several nurses – face potential sentences ranging from eight to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at age 60 while recovering at a private residence following brain surgery to address a subdural hematoma. Official reports indicate his death resulted from a cardiorespiratory arrest complicated by pulmonary edema.
Prosecutors allege that the medical team failed to provide adequate care during Maradona’s post-operative recovery, despite knowing the risks involved. The prosecution argues that the defendants’ omissions constituted a conscious disregard for the patient’s life.
Outside the courthouse, small groups of Maradona supporters gathered wearing team jerseys and holding signs reading “Justice for D1OS” – a play on words combining “Dios” (God) and Maradona’s iconic number 10. Among them was Francisco Tesch, a 34-year-old from Greater Buenos Aires, who told AFP he attended hoping “the truth would come to light.”
“From the moment he died, we’ve all wondered who was in Diego’s circle, why he wasn’t protected,” Tesch said. “I believe many of us are asking that same question.”
The defense maintains that each medical professional acted within their individual scope of responsibility and that Maradona retained full decision-making capacity regarding his treatment. They argue that the football star’s well-documented struggles with addiction and non-compliance with medical advice contributed to the outcome.
Fernando Burlando, lawyer for Maradona’s eldest daughters Dalma and Gianinna, has characterized the case as one of deliberate abandonment, stating during proceedings that “Diego Maradona was assassinated” through medical omissions.
The current proceedings represent a renewed effort to establish accountability for the circumstances surrounding Maradona’s death, which shocked the global sports community and triggered an outpouring of grief from fans worldwide. The idolized Argentine, who led his nation to World Cup glory in 1986 and achieved legendary status at Napoli, continues to be commemorated in murals and tributes across the globe.
As the trial continues over the coming months, the court will examine extensive medical records, testimony from witnesses familiar with Maradona’s final days, and expert opinions on the standard of care provided during his convalescence. The verdict will hinge on whether prosecutors can prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants’ actions – or failures to act – demonstrated the requisite conscious indifference to human life required for a conviction under Argentina’s dol eventual statute.
The case has drawn significant international attention not only because of Maradona’s stature as one of football’s greatest players but also due to broader questions it raises about medical responsibility, patient autonomy, and the challenges of treating high-profile individuals with complex medical histories.
For now, Luque’s insistence on his innocence – coupled with his expressed regret over Maradona’s passing – encapsulates the central tension of a prosecution that seeks to assign criminal liability for what many view as a tragic confluence of medical shortcomings, personal struggles, and systemic failures in care.
The next phase of testimony is expected to focus on detailed medical assessments of Maradona’s condition in the weeks preceding his death, with both sides preparing to present conflicting interpretations of the clinical data and the obligations of the treating physicians.
As this legal process unfolds, it continues to resonate far beyond the courtroom in San Isidro, touching upon enduring debates about how society balances compassion with accountability when public figures succumb to preventable tragedies.
Archysport will continue to monitor developments in this case and provide verified updates as they become available through official court channels and authoritative reporting.
