New trial begins in Argentina over soccer great Diego Maradona's death

Argentinian soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona waves to photographers as he leaves a hotel in Barcelona, Spain, in September 2008, after meeting FC Barcelona's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi. Maradona died at age 60 on November 25, 2020, after a heart attack. The Argentine soccer great led his country to the 1986 World Cup. File Photo by Alberto Estevez/EPA

April 14 (UPI) -- A second criminal trial over the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is to begin Tuesday in Argentina after the original proceedings were voided in May 2025.

Four doctors, two nurses and one psychologist are charged with negligent homicide for allegedly contributing to the death of Maradona, one of Argentina's most beloved sports icons, while he was receiving home hospitalization, La Nacion reported.

Maradona, who was 60, was recovering at the time from surgery performed two weeks earlier to remove a subdural hematoma from his brain.

Prosecutors argue the medical team knew home treatment was inadequate and that their decisions contributed to the pulmonary edema and heart failure that caused Maradona's death on Nov. 25, 2020. If convicted, the defendants face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.

The first trial was annulled after a scandal involving Judge Julieta Makintach, who oversaw the case. Makintach was removed and barred from serving after authorizing the filming of a documentary about the proceedings without the consent of the parties while the trial was underway, according to media outlet Perfil.

The audiovisual project was filmed inside the courthouse. Makintach gave an interview in her chambers, and scenes from the trial were recorded without authorization in an effort to document the proceedings inside the courtroom.

The controversy forced invalidation of more than 20 hearings in which more than 40 witnesses had testified.

A newly appointed three-judge panel will hear the retrial. About 100 witnesses are expected to testify, local broadcaster Cadena 3 reported.

Two hearings per week are scheduled during proceedings that are likely to last several months.

Defense attorneys are expected to argue that Maradona's death was unavoidable because of his preexisting health conditions. They also plan to contend he died from a cardiac event and that none of the defendants specialized in cardiology.