A judge presiding over the high-profile trial into the death of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona has stepped down following a scandal that cast doubt on her impartiality and threatened to derail the entire proceedings.
Julieta Makintach, one of three judges overseeing the case, announced her recusal on Tuesday after defense attorneys accused her of bias due to her involvement in a documentary related to the trial. Her decision follows mounting pressure and a suspension of the trial last week.
“Given the request of all parties, I have no choice but to grant the recusal,” Makintach stated. Although she denied any misconduct or bias, her credibility was called into question when a trailer for the documentary showed her being interviewed inside the courtroom, despite a strict ban on filming the trial.
Her departure could have serious implications for the case. Legal experts warn that Makintach’s exit may lead to her replacement or force the trial to restart entirely, potentially nullifying weeks of proceedings.
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema while recuperating at a private residence following brain surgery for a blood clot. Seven medical professionals are on trial for alleged gross negligence in his care, accused of making decisions that may have knowingly put his life at risk. If convicted, they face prison sentences of eight to 25 years for homicide with possible intent.
Prosecutors have criticized the conditions of Maradona’s home care as inadequate, and emotional testimony from his daughter Gianinna described his final days as spent in a “dark, ugly and lonely” place, where caregivers seemed more interested in money than his health.
Defense attorneys raised concerns about influence peddling and possible bribery after learning of Makintach’s involvement in the documentary, and plaintiffs have since questioned the legitimacy of the trial.
“Everyone now feels that this trial is compromised,” said Mario Baudry, lawyer for Maradona’s former partner Veronica Ojeda. “It’s healthiest to start over from scratch.”
A decision on how the trial will proceed in light of Makintach’s recusal is expected in the coming days.
Written By Rodney Mbua
