The verdict in the high-profile trial concerning the 2020 death of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona will be officially delivered on December 22, the court announced Thursday following six months of hearings.
Seven healthcare professionals are standing trial, accused of criminal negligence linked to the legendary player’s passing at age 60 from heart failure and pulmonary oedema.
The trial’s conclusion featured emotional final statements, including a brief, tearful plea from Maradona’s daughter, Dalma Maradona, who expressed hope that her father would finally receive justice.
Meanwhile, the primary defendant and Maradona’s lead doctor, Leopoldo Luque, maintained his innocence.
Prosecutors have requested prison sentences ranging from four to twelve years for six of the seven defendants, pushing for the maximum 12-year term specifically for Luque.
Throughout the legal proceedings, the trial closely scrutinized whether the decision to let Maradona convalesce at a private residence in Tigre—rather than keeping him hospitalized—constituted negligence.
Prosecutors highlighted a severe lack of proper medical infrastructure at the home, noting the absence of critical care equipment like a hospital bed, defibrillator, or readily available ambulance during his recovery from minor neurosurgery.
Luque emerged as the most combative defendant during the months of testimony, with his legal team arguing that he was being unfairly used as a “scapegoat.”
Defending his actions, Luque asserted his deep personal and professional bond with the star, claiming he was targeted simply because he maintained the closest contact with him.
However, his defense strategy—which involved presenting scientific articles, audio recordings, and even a video of the autopsy—drew intense anger from Maradona’s daughters.
As the court prepares to rule on December 22, medical experts who testified during the proceedings emphasized that the care team failed to respond adequately to critical warning signs in the days leading up to Maradona’s death, such as his severe breathing difficulties, tachycardia, and oedema.
The final verdict will close a painful chapter for Argentina, which was plunged into deep national mourning when the football legend passed away amidst the COVID-19 pandemic on November 25, 2020.
