Argentine prosecutors have asked for prison terms of four to 12 years for six members of Diego Maradona’s medical team, accusing them of negligence in the care provided before the football star’s death in 2020. No verdict has been issued. Closing arguments began on Thursday and are expected to last about two weeks.
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari divided the defendants into two groups. He sought eight to 12 years for three medical workers on a charge of homicide with eventual intent, which involves negligence committed with awareness that it could lead to death. Three others face the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, for which prosecutors requested four to five years.
The longest sentence requested was 12 years in prison and a 10-year ban on medical practice for neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque. Prosecutors asked for 10 years for medical-care coordinator Nancy Forlini and eight years for psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov. The prosecution described Luque and Cosachov as key decision-makers on the team overseeing Maradona’s care.
Prosecutors sought no punishment for the seventh defendant, general practitioner Pedro Di Spagna. They said the trial established that he bore no criminal responsibility and noted that he visited Maradona only once during the recovery period.
Maradona died at age 60 on Nov. 25, 2020. He was found at a rented house in Tigre, where he was recovering from brain surgery. The reported cause was acute cardiorespiratory failure accompanied by pulmonary edema. Prosecutors said the care arrangement was chaotic and left the footballer without adequate support. The court will hear the parties’ arguments before deliberating on a verdict.