An Argentine court declared a mistrial Thursday in the high-profile case against the medical team accused of negligence in the death of Diego Maradona, citing judicial misconduct tied to the filming of a documentary during courtroom proceedings.
Judge Julieta Makintach, one of three overseeing the trial, stepped down earlier this week after allegations surfaced that she allowed a documentary crew to film inside the courtroom. The controversy, linked to the production of Divine Justice, forced the court to invalidate all proceedings since the trial's start on March 11.
Makintach denied any breach of conduct. "My impartiality is not at stake. There is no suspicion of a lack of neutrality because there is nothing that could imply that," she said Tuesday before her removal.
Footage from the documentary's teaser, presented in court, featured scenes of Makintach walking through the courthouse intercut with archival clips of Maradona. Prosecutors argued that the judge's involvement in the production compromised her neutrality.
The new panel of judges will be selected by lottery, but a timeline for restarting the trial remains unclear. "The new court will discuss the admissibility of the evidence, and a debate hearing will be set," said prosecutor Cosme Iribarren.
Maradona's daughters expressed frustration over the delay. "The only thing we want is for the process to move forward," said Dalma Maradona. Their attorney, Fernando Burlando, voiced hope for an expedited process: "We can do it in an express manner and we could have the trial for the death of Diego Armando Maradona, perhaps with a sentence before the end of the year."
The trial stems from allegations that the soccer legend, who died at age 60 from cardiac arrest following brain surgery, was subjected to gross medical malpractice. Prosecutors have accused eight members of Maradona's care team - including his physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, medical coordinator, and nurses - of "simple homicide," a charge carrying 8 to 25 years in prison.
Veronica Ojeda, Maradona's former partner, expressed anguish following the mistrial announcement. "I am saddened because this means five years of work have been thrown in the trash," she said tearfully. "They mocked us."
Defense lawyers for the accused claim their clients are being scapegoated. "This is all a great embarrassment," said Miguel Angel Pierri, a defense attorney representing one of the defendants.
The trial had garnered widespread attention in Argentina, where Maradona remains a revered national icon for leading the country to victory in the 1986 World Cup. His death in November 2020 triggered public mourning and intensified demands for accountability.
