Following the Doku controversy, the referee assigned to Maradona's game faces suspension
Judge Julieta Makintach, presiding over the trial of health professionals accused of manslaughter in the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, has been temporarily suspended due to her involvement in an unauthorized documentary film. The Supreme Court of Buenos Aires announced the suspension for 90 days, following the judgment that Judge Makintach had secretly filmed a TV documentary about the trial without the consent or knowledge of her colleagues.
A trailer and a draft of the first episode of the documentary were leaked to local media, leading to accusations of bias from both the defense teams and the prosecution. Faced with these allegations, the judge recused herself from the case. It has not been determined whether the trial will continue under a different chamber or be stayed and restarted, with the court planning to take a decision on Thursday.
The trial, which began in March, involves seven doctors and nurses who are standing accused of manslaughter in the death of Maradona, who passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, following a heart attack in a private residence. He had undergone brain surgery a few weeks prior. Investigators contend that significant mistakes were made in the home care of the 1986 World Cup winner.
Maradona's family and fans have voiced their outrage over the trial's annulment, with his daughter publicly expressing anger and frustration. The legal process will restart from the beginning, necessitating both sides to rebuild their cases. If convicted, the defendants face potential prison terms ranging from eight to 25 years. The new trial, with a new panel of judges, will re-examine the admissibility of evidence and set a new debate hearing where both sides will need to redraw their arguments.
The timing for the start of the new trial remains uncertain.
- The suspension of Judge Julieta Makintach, amidst the controversy surrounding a secretly filmed documentary about the manslaughter trial of Diego Maradona, has highlighted the intersection of policy-and-legislation and politics in general-news.
- The unauthorized documentary, featuring Judge Makintach, has raised concerns about the ethical boundaries in crime-and-justice proceedings, particularly in cases as high-profile as the Maradona trial.
- The sports world, including European leagues and Laliga fans, eagerly await updates on the re-start of the Maradona manslaughter trial, following the judge's suspension and the subsequent disturbance in the legal process.
- Furthermore, the potential impact of the documentary scandal on the future course of the Maradona case underscores the complex relationship between sports, politics, and the law, a subject significant for policy-and-legislation discussions.
