A fan shows a flag bearing the picture of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona exterior the courtroom on October 8, 2026. Picture: AFP
ARGENTINA:
Argentine prosecutors argued on Thursday that the “chaotic” medical crew treating soccer legend Diego Maradona on the time of his loss of life ought to obtain jail sentences as much as 12 years.
Seven medical professionals have been on trial since April over Maradona’s loss of life on November 25, 2020 whereas convalescing after surgical procedure for a mind clot.
The star of the 1986 World Cup died of coronary heart failure and acute pulmonary edema — a situation the place fluid accumulates within the lungs — at a rented house within the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre two weeks after going below the knife.
The larger-than-life star, who had a historical past of substance abuse, was 60 on the time of his loss of life.
His medical crew, together with his chief physician, psychiatrist, psychologist and nurses, are accused of offering grossly insufficient care within the lead-up to his loss of life. They deny the costs.
In his closing arguments, prosecutor Patricio Ferrai stated the defendants’ “chaotic group” left the ailing affected person “in a helpless state of affairs, abandoning him to his destiny.”
He accused them of getting “breached their duties, carried out actions opposite to the artwork of therapeutic” and having “omitted all of the acts they had been required to carry out.”
The defendants are charged with “dolo eventual” — a authorized time period which means that an individual is conscious that their actions may trigger hurt however persevered nonetheless.
The best jail sentence sought by prosecutors was 12 years, for Maradona’s private doctor, Leopoldo Luque.
Different sentences starting from 4 to 10 years had been looked for different medical employees, which embody a psychiatrist, nurse and coordinators.
The well being employees have argued that Maradona’s loss of life couldn’t have been foreseen and that they did their jobs. Every defendant has additionally downplayed their very own particular person duty for his care.
No defibrillator
The case has revolved round whether or not the medical doctors’ determination to permit Maradona convalesce in a non-public house, as a substitute of in a hospital, was negligent.
The prosecution has additionally pointed to the near-total absence of medical gear, reminiscent of a hospital mattress, defibrillator or shortly accessible ambulance as proof of what they offered because the defendants’ dereliction of obligation.
A number of medical consultants testified that Maradona’s carers didn’t react to key warning indicators — he was affected by edema, tachycardia and had issue respiratory — within the lead-up to his loss of life.
“Diego Armando Maradona’s loss of life clearly didn’t come out of nowhere: the indicators of this deadly consequence began appearing lengthy beforehand,” assistant prosecutor Cosme Iribarren summarized on Thursday.
The prosecution once more confirmed the courtroom shock pictures of the previous footballer mendacity lifeless in mattress, his abdomen grotesquely swollen.
Maradona’s three daughters, who had been current in courtroom on Thursday for the beginning of the summation, coated their faces to keep away from seeing the photographs.
The summation is anticipated to final round two weeks and the decision is anticipated at a later date.
The primary trial over Maradona’s loss of life was dramatically annulled final 12 months after two-and-a-half months of hearings, following revelations that one of many judges took half in a clandestine documentary in regards to the case.