An Argentine judge ruled on Wednesday (22/6) that eight medical personnel involved in the treatment of soccer star Diego Maradona will face a public trial for negligence in treating the goal-scorer.
Brain surgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov are among those to be tried for murder, the judge ruled. The trial is not expected to start until late 2023 or early 2024.
The defendants are accused of failing to properly care for Maradona while he was recovering from surgery, which led to his death.
Maradona died at the age of 60 on November 25, 2020 of a heart-respiratory attack while he was recovering at a house outside Buenos Aires. He is recovering from surgery for a blood clot in his brain.
Prosecutors requested in April that Judge Orlando Díaz place those under investigation in public court.
Maradona’s autopsy said he died of natural causes, but an Argentine court began investigating the case after coming under pressure from Maradona’s family. A medical panel said the performance of the staff caring for the 1986 World Cup winner was inadequate. [ah/rs]
