The trial into the circumstances surrounding the death of Diego Maradona has been declared null and void by the lead judge overseeing the case, with the case collapsing in scandal.
Maximiliano Savarino, the head of Oral Criminal Court No. 3 of San Isidro, declared a mistrial Thursday, one day after his colleague Julieta Makintach stepped down over her role in an unauthorised documentary about the case.
Reading out his decision to the court, Savarino said that Makintach "had many discussions in the intermediate rooms and with witnesses and lawyers."
Such behaviour, he concluded, meant the trial "should not be resumed."
Makintach had "caused prejudice" to the proceedings, which started in March and had already heard more than 40 witnesses.
A new trial will be held with a different panel of judges.
"The only one responsible is the judge who has been removed," said Savarino.
The prosecution, plaintiffs and most of the defence lawyers involved in the case had all asked for a new panel of judges to be appointed and the trial, which they consider tainted, began anew.
Makintach recused herself on Tuesday after it emerged she had been interviewed for a miniseries about the case, potentially breaking a string of ethics rules.
Maradona died in November 2020, aged 60 while recovering from brain surgery.
His seven-person medical team stood trial over the conditions of his home convalescence after major surgery, described by prosecutors as grossly negligent.
The charges relate to the decision to allow Maradona to recover from major surgery at home, and the conditions of his care.
Gianinna Maradona has claimed during the trial that her father was kept in "a dark, ugly and lonely" place and that his carers were more interested in money than his welfare.
Maradona – considered one of the world's greatest ever players – died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema.
The seven defendants faced prison terms of between eight and 25 years if convicted of homicide with possible malice aforethought (dolo eventual) – pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death.
An eighth defendant, nurse Gisela Madrid, is due to be tried separately.
– TIMES/AFP
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