The latest trial into the d3ath of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has been suspended after the defence raised concerns that kidney test results presented in court may have belonged to Maradona’s late father rather than the football icon.
Seven healthcare workers are facing accusations of cr!minal negligence over the medical care Maradona received before his d3ath at the age of 60 in November 2020, while recovering from brain surgery.
The original trial was annulled last year after two and a half months of proceedings when it emerged that one of the judges had secretly participated in a documentary about the case.
Court Examines Alleged Mix-Up in Medical Evidence
A new trial began in April and was approaching its conclusion when the disputed medical evidence triggered another controversy.
The defence argued that some kidney test results presented during the proceedings belonged to Maradona’s father, Diego Salustiano Maradona, who died in 2015.
The court has adjourned the case until August 27 to determine whether the disputed tests “correspond to Diego Armando Maradona or someone else,” presiding judge Alberto Gaig said.
Maradona died from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, a condition involving fluid buildup in the lungs, at a rented property in the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre. His d3ath occurred about two weeks after he underwent surgery for a brain clot.
His medical team has been accused of failing to provide adequate care during his recovery, allegations they deny.
The prosecution maintained that the alleged mix-up over the test results would not undermine its case.
“They (the defense) will not succeed in bringing down the trial,” prosecutor Patricio Ferrari said Thursday.
However, if the results are confirmed to belong to Maradona’s father, the development could undermine the credibility of the medical commission that assessed the circumstances surrounding the footballer’s d3ath.
Medical Team Faces Scrutiny Over Maradona’s Care
The medical commission has been highly critical of the treatment Maradona received during his final days.
On Tuesday, a nephrologist told the court that Maradona, who had a history of cocaine abu$e, suffered from chronic kidney disease that should have raised concerns among those caring for him.
The specialist said Maradona should have undergone daily blood tests but noted that there was no evidence that blood samples were taken during the two weeks he spent recovering at home.
Agustin Varela, a lawyer representing accused nurse Nancy Forlini, pointed out that some of the disputed kidney tests were dated 2015 and argued that they could not have belonged to Maradona because he was not living in Argentina at the time.
Maradona spent much of 2015 in Dubai before returning to Argentina to visit his father, who d!ed in June of that year.
Another lawyer representing Forlini, Nicolas D’Albora, however, said there were no plans to request a mistrial.
“I want this case to end so that my client knows her judicial fate,” he said.