Trial of Maradona in Peril Following Judge's Resignation - Trial proceeds for Maradona following referee's withdrawal from court proceedings
ArgentineCourt Declares Mistrial in Diego Maradona Death Trial
Judge Julieta Makintach, one of the judges presiding over the high-profile trial, withdrew from the case after facing allegations of compromised impartiality. The accusations stemmed from Makintach's involvement in a forthcoming documentary series about the trial, titled "Divine Justice," in which she was to be a main protagonist.
On May 29th, 2025, the court in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, declared a mistrial due to Makintach's recusal. The decision aims to ensure a fair and unbiased trial, as the judge's participation in the documentary series raised significant ethical concerns.
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari requested Makintach's recusal, accusing her of behaving more like an actress than a judge. The trailer for the documentary series, featuring grim details about Maradona's death and his painful milestones, was screened in the courtroom, leading to emotional reactions from Maradona's daughter, Giannina, and his ex-partner, Veronica Ojeda.
With Makintach's withdrawal, the court must now decide whether to appoint a replacement judge or annul the proceedings and restart the trial from the beginning. Most parties involved in the trial have expressed support for a retrial.
Diego Maradona, a football legend passionately revered in Argentina, died on November 25th, 2020, at the age of 60 from heart failure and pulmonary edema. Seven health professionals have been accused of negligence in connection with his passing. If convicted, they face prison terms ranging from eight to 25 years. However, all defendants deny any responsibility for Maradona's death.
The new trial's timing has yet to be determined, and the ruling has cast doubt on the integrity of the judicial process, with Makintach facing allegations of violating impartiality, influence-peddling, and bribery related to her participation in the documentary.
- Diego Maradona
- Death Trial
- Julieta Makintach
- San Isidro, Buenos Aires
- Documentary series
- Justice
- Judge's withdrawal
- Retrial*Negligence accusation
- Prison sentence
- Giannina Maradona
- Veronica Ojeda
- Football legend
- Jurisprudential scandal
Julieta Makintach, a judge presiding over Diego Maradona's death trial, withdrew from the case due to allegations of compromised impartiality, stemming from her involvement in a documentary series about the trial. The San Isidro court in Buenos Aires, where the trial took place, declared a mistrial on May 29th, 2025, to ensure fairness amidst the ethical concerns raised. The new trial's timing is uncertain, and the judge's withdrawal has sparked a controversy, with Makintach accused of influencing the judicial process through her participation in the documentary series. Diego Maradona, a highly revered football legend, was the subject of the trial, as seven health professionals have been accused of negligence regarding his death in 2020.
