By ASSOCIATED PRESS and REUTERS

A court in Argentina has declared a mistrial in the case of seven health professionals accused of negligence in the death of soccer legend Diego Maradona.

Maradona’s medical team were charged with negligent homicide in a trial that began on March 11. They are accused of failing to provide adequate care for the soccer star in his final days 

The mistrial decision on Thursday comes after one of the three judges stepped down amid criticism over her participation in an upcoming documentary about the case.

That left the court needing either to appoint a new judge in her place or to retry the entire case from scratch.

On Thursday, the judges decided the latter, ruling there would be a new trial without specifying when. 

The defendants have denied the charges of ‘simple homicide with eventual intent’ in Maradona’s treatment. They were facing prison sentences of between eight and 25 years. 

Diego Maradona died in November 2020 aged 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home

Diego Maradona died in November 2020 aged 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home

Maradona's daughters, Gianinna (L) and Dalma (R), arrive for the trial hearing on Thursday

Maradona’s daughters, Gianinna (L) and Dalma (R), arrive for the trial hearing on Thursday

Leopoldo Luque, the personal doctor of the late soccer legend, leaves the San Isidro court

Leopoldo Luque, the personal doctor of the late soccer legend, leaves the San Isidro court

Julieta Makintach said that she had ‘no choice’ but to resign from the case on Tuesday after the prosecutor showed a teaser-trailer for a documentary.

Divine Justice traces the aftermath of Maradona’s death at the age of 60 to the start of the trial, clearly featuring Makintach as a main protagonist.  

‘This is all a great embarrassment,’ defense attorney Miguel Angel Pierri told media outside the courthouse. 

Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, died on November 25, 2020 on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, days after undergoing surgery for a hematoma that formed between his skull and brain.

:
Shock twist in Diego Maradona case with seven medics on trial on homicide charges over soccer legend’s death

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