Judge's Departure Puts Maradona Trial at Risk - Trial Proceeds for Maradona Without the Presence of Original Referee
Judge Julieta Makintach's Involvement in DocumentarySerial Raises Ethical Concerns, Potentially Delaying Maradona Trial
Judge Maximiliano Savarino, presiding over the trial of Diego Maradona's death at the San Isidro court in Buenos Aires, expressed concerns about Makintach's impartiality due to her involvement in a documentary series about the case. Seized footage showed Makintach working on the series, with herself as the main character.
On Tuesday, a trailer for the miniseries "Divine Justice" was played in the courtroom, depicting Makintach rushing through the courthouse corridors as a narrator detailed grim details of Maradona's death. The script revealed that the documentary series would follow Makintach as she reconstructed Maradona's death and significant life events.
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari criticized Makintach, alleging that she behaved more like an actress than a judge during the proceedings. Maradona's daughter Giannina and his ex-partner Veronica Ojeda wept while watching the video material in the courtroom. Meanwhile, Judge Makintach sat on the bench with her head bowed. She later stated that she had "no choice" but to withdraw from the case.
The withdrawal of Judge Makintach could impede the trial's progress, with international football fans closely following its proceedings. The court is scheduled to decide on Thursday whether a replacement judge can be appointed or if a retrial with three new judges is necessary. Most of the parties involved have spoken in favor of a retrial on Tuesday.
Diego Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60 due to heart failure and pulmonary edema. Following a brain operation, he received care in a rented apartment in an upscale neighborhood north of Buenos Aires. The prosecution accuses his doctors and caregivers of negligent care, causing his death, while Maradona's daughter Gianinna alleges that the defendants had placed him in a "dark, ugly, and lonely" environment, prioritizing his money over his well-being.
If convicted, the seven defendants face sentences ranging from eight to 25 years in prison. All defendants deny any responsibility for Maradona's death. Argentina passionately reveres Maradona, and his death during the COVID-19 crisis triggered deep mourning in South America and among football fans worldwide. It is expected that he will be interred in a mausoleum on a one-thousand-square-meter plot in Puerto Madero, a popular tourist district of Buenos Aires, attracting approximately one million visitors annually.
[1] [Enrichment Data - Overall]: The court is reevaluating the trial's future due to Makintach's recusal. A hearing has been scheduled to discuss the continuation of the case with a new judge or to annul the proceedings to date. However, the specific details regarding the replacement judge have not been announced yet.
Diego Maradona, Death, Buenos Aires, Julieta Makintach, Documentary series, Maximiliano Savarino, San Isidro, Justice.
- The documentary series featuring Judge Julieta Makintach, titled "Divine Justice," has raised concerns about her impartiality in the Diego Maradona trial, as she is the main character in the show.
- The planned documentary series, which includes reconstructions of Maradona's death and significant life events, may face challenges after Judge Makintach's withdrawal from the case.
- As an international follow-up to the Maradona trial progresses in Buenos Aires' San Isidro court, attention is now turned towards the potential appointment of a new judge following Makintach's recusal from the case.
