Julieta Makintach, the judge who last month caused the dramatic collapse of the trial into the 2020 death of football legend Diego Maradona, resigned her post on Tuesday ahead of likely impeachment proceedings.
Makintach's involvement in a clandestine documentary about the trial of Maradona's medical team sparked a huge scandal and led to the proceedings being scrapped in May after two months of hearings.
The controversy erupted when it was revealed that the judge was starring in a documentary about the trial that included scenes from hearings, where filming was prohibited.
She initially denied any wrongdoing, but after police raids and a week-long suspension of trial proceedings, evidence came to light that brought the 47-year-old judge's conduct into question.
Local media later published leaked clips from a planned documentary named Justicia Divina, contradicting her claims of innocence. Leaked footage showed the judge entering the courtroom and being interviewed in her office.
Makintach was suspended from her duties for 90 days and was under investigation by a judicial disciplinary body, accused of violating impartiality requirements, influence-peddling and possibly even bribery.
Her fellow judges said she had "caused prejudice" to the proceedings which heard hours of painful, sometimes tearful, testimony from witnesses including Maradona's children.
Makintach is also under criminal investigation for her actions.
Resignation
In a letter to Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof, Makintach – who was set to face impeachment proceedings – said she "regretted the events that have public knowledge and … the profound institutional and social impact" of her actions on a "very sensitive" trial.
She said she believed her resignation would help restore confidence in the Judiciary, highlighting that, beyond this event, the rest of her career was “unblemished.”
“My greatest contribution to rebuilding institutional prestige and repairing the mistakes made is to voluntarily step down from my position,” she said in the letter addressed to Kicillof.
An impeachment trial to remove Makintach from office was expected to begin on Tuesday after a group of associate judges, lawyers and lawmakers approved a bid to impeach the magistrate. Her resignation nullifies the procedure.
However, she will lose judicial immunity in the ongoing criminal case, which is probing allegations of abuse of authority, dereliction of public duties and influence-peddling.
Maradona trial
Maradona, one of the world's greatest-ever players and one of Argentina’s most-beloved sons, died in November 2020 aged 60 while recovering from brain surgery.
He was found to have died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema – a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs – two weeks after going under the knife.
Seven of Maradona's caregivers risk prison terms 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, will be tried separately.
As a result of the annulment, all witness testimony to date, including expert forensic evidence, has been voided.
Until the scandal broke, the trial – which began in March – was proceeding at a rate of two hearings per week and was expected to last until at least July.
No date has yet been set for a new trial although a new three-judge bench has been designated to hear the case.
– TIMES/AFP/PERFIL
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