MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Health care professionals in charge of Maradona booked for murder

Maradona died almost a year ago while his health was in tghe hands of the accused.

All seven health care professionals who were treating Argentine football legend Diego Armando Maradona when he underwent surgery and eventually died have been charged with malpractice and other crimes by a San Isidro (Greater Buenos Aires) court Monday.

The neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, the psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, the psychologist Carlos Díaz and other practicioners were held accountable for Maradona's death, it was announced Monday.

Also booked were nurses Mariano Perroni, Ricardo Almirón and Gisella Madrid, and Doctor Nancy Forlini.

The next step now up to the prosecution is to send the dossier over for trial, which is expected to occur shortly, it was explained.

Following the conclusions of a medical board, the seven health professionals were charged with “simple homicide with eventual intent”, a criminal type which entails a penalty of 8 to 25 years in jail and which prosecutors found most suitable for the case after concluding, according to medical expert reports, that the accused acted in a “deficient“, ”reckless“ and ”indifferent” way towards their patient, because they knew he could die and did nothing to prevent it.

Maradona died Nov. 25, 2020 and his autopsy showed that it was all due to pulmonary edema, secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure. That day, according to those present, they tried to wake up and revive Diego, but without any success. So they called for an ambulance, but by then it was too late.

Leading the procedures on behalf of the prosecution were assistant district attorneys Cosme Iribarren, Patricio Ferrari and Laura Capra.

Monday's procedure was said to be a formality, but one that was required before the accused could be put up for trial.

Maradona died aged 60 in a house in the private neighborhood of San Andrés, in Tigre, where he was under house hospitalization following surgery. The conditions of said hospitalization, which the accused should have overseen properly, are the subject of the criminal investigation.