Court Orders New Trial in Maradona Medical Negligence Case After Judge’s Dramatic Exit

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentina’s judicial system was thrown into turmoil Thursday as a court declared a mistrial in the high-profile negligence case involving seven medical professionals accused in Diego Maradona’s 2020 death.

The stunning decision came after Judge Julieta Makintach resigned Tuesday following controversy over her participation in an upcoming documentary about the case. The court ruled the entire proceeding must restart with a new judicial panel.

Case Collapses Over Judicial Conflict

The three-judge panel faced an impossible choice after Makintach’s withdrawal: either replace her or declare a mistrial. They chose the latter, wiping clean two months of testimony in the closely watched case.

“I had no choice but to resign,” Makintach stated after prosecutors revealed a trailer for “Divine Justice,” a documentary featuring her prominently. The film chronicles events from Maradona’s death through the trial’s beginning.

What Comes Next?

The court ordered:

• All proceedings nullified

• New trial to be scheduled

• Current evidence preserved

• No timeline established for retrial

Legal experts suggest the reset could delay final resolution by 12-18 months in a case that has already dragged on for nearly four years since Maradona’s passing.

Remembering El Diego

The football icon died November 25, 2020, at age 60 while recovering from brain surgery in a Buenos Aires suburb. Prosecutors allege his medical team failed to provide adequate care during his fragile final days.

Maradona’s 1986 World Cup triumph remains Argentina’s most cherished sporting achievement, making this case a national obsession.