An Argentine court declared a mistrial Thursday in the homicide case against Diego Maradona’s medical team, who faced allegations of malpractice.
The mistrial followed the removal of one of the three judges, Julieta Makintach, after a defendant raised concerns about her impartiality and her authorization of filming a documentary during court sessions. Makintach accepted the disqualification but defended her actions.
A new trial will be held with a different panel of judges, though the start date is still uncertain.
Fernando Burlando, a lawyer representing Maradona’s daughters, expressed hope that the new trial could proceed quickly, potentially reaching a verdict before the end of the year. “Given how well everyone knows the case, we could have an expedited process and possibly a sentence for the death of Diego Armando Maradona before year-end,” he said outside the court in Buenos Aires.
Dalma Maradona, one of the late soccer star’s daughters, urged for progress, saying, “The only thing we want is for the process to move forward.”
Maradona, famous for scoring the winning goal in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup victory, passed away from heart failure in November 2020.
Prosecutors have charged eight medical professionals with “simple homicide” related to his death. The trial for seven defendants began in March, while the eighth will face a separate jury trial once the initial case concludes. Convictions could result in prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.