The high-profile trial of seven Argentine health professionals accused in the 2020 death of football legend Diego Maradona has been thrown into uncertainty following allegations of judicial misconduct against one of the presiding judges.
Judge Julieta Makintach, part of the three-member panel overseeing the trial in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, is accused of violating court rules by participating in a documentary filmed in the courtroom. Footage shows her being interviewed despite a strict ban on filming inside court, leading to calls for her recusal and potentially forcing the trial to restart entirely.
Defense attorneys and representatives for Maradona’s family have expressed concern that the judge’s actions compromise the integrity of the proceedings. “She did not act like a judge but like an actress,” said Fernando Burlando, a lawyer for Maradona’s daughters.
Maradona died in November 2020 while recovering from brain surgery under home care, with prosecutors accusing the medical team of gross negligence. The defendants face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The trial, already under global scrutiny, now faces further delays and questions about the Argentine judiciary’s credibility.
