Argentina’s highly anticipated trial began on Tuesday against a team of medical professionals accused of the death of football star Diego Maradona, who passed away in 2020, in a case that has stirred emotions across the South American country.
Family members and the accused arrived at the court in a suburb of the capital, Buenos Aires, with Maradona’s nurses, a neurosurgeon, and a psychiatrist among those charged with murder.
Outside the appeals court in San Isidro, fans held signs reading “Justice for D10S,” using a nickname based on Maradona’s jersey number and the Spanish word for “God,” as he is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Seven members of the medical team have appeared in court for a trial expected to last several months.
Maradona died at home in November 2020 from heart failure at the age of 60 while recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot a few days earlier.
His medical team has denied charges of “intentional homicide” in their treatment of the former Boca Juniors and Napoli player.
If found guilty, they could face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
Maradona’s death shocked the South American nation, where he was revered for leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, and sparked an outpouring of grief as well as finger-pointing over who was to blame for Maradona’s long-standing battles with drug addiction and poor health.
More than 100 witness testimonies are expected to be presented before the three-member court, ranging from family members and doctors to friends and journalists.
