The second trial for the death of Diego Armando Maradona begins today in the San Isidro Courts, after the annulment of the first process in 2025 as a result of the documentary Divine Justice which starred the former judge Juliet Makintach.
Everything will start again. The case for the alleged simple homicide with possible intent of the star will start from scratch the debate that will determine the supposed responsibilities of a neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque; the psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov; the psychologist Carlos Diaz; the nurse Ricardo Omar Almirón; the coordinator Mariano Perroni; the clinical doctor Pedro Di Spagna and the head of Diego’s home confinement, Nancy Edith Forlini.
Dalma, Gianinna and Jana Maradona -three of the idol’s daughters-, Veronica Ojeda -mother of Dieguito Fernando and ex-partner-, the sisters, the lawyer Victor Stinfalethe doctors who performed the autopsy and people who accompanied “Pelusa” until his last days will have to testify again.
The hearings will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the building at 340 Ituzaingó Street, where on the first day a strong mobilization is expected to demand justice for the “Diez.”
Last year, more than 40 witnesses appeared before the magistrates Maximiliano Savarino, Veronica Di Tomasso and Julieta Makintach (TOC N°3), photographs of the autopsy were exhibited, shocking audios of conversations held by the accused and even the arrest of Maradona’s former security chief Julio César Coria was completed, although he was later released.
Nothing worked, everything was in vain. An entire trial thrown away. An audiovisual project was filmed in the Courts facilities, which included the participation of one of the judges -Makintach-.
The surrogate He offered an interview in his office, walked through the halls of the place and scenes of the hearings were recorded inside the room.
A camera entered the trial without authorization and filmed various situations, with the aim of documenting the process that would reach the truth – or not – of what happened to one of the most popular idols in Argentina: Diego Armando Maradona.
Julio Rivasone of Luque’s defenders, reported that he was contacted by the BBC in London to be part of the project, for which he requested the judge’s recusal in one of the hearings.
Another of the most striking situations occurred when The former head of TOC No. 2 sat in the center of the podium and took the place of Savarino, who was the president of the debate.
Rodolfo Baqué, who legally sponsored Almirón, was expelled from the debate due to an alleged conflict of interest, but the lawyer later stated that this fact “it was part of the script” of Divine Justice.
The prosecutor Patrick Ferrari He exposed the images of the scandal in the trial to the surprise and tears of the daughters of Diego and Verónica Ojeda, while Makintach flatly denied: “This is not mine.”
At that moment, Baqué stood up from his seat and described “trash” to the judicial official, who was expelled from the process, and a week later the absolute nullity of the debate was determined.
Fernando Burlandolegal representative of Dalma and Giannina, and Julio César Coria -one of the witnesses- filed complaints against Makintach and a criminal case was initiated in UFI No. 1 of San Isidro.
At the same time, multiple requests were made for political trial and the attorney general of the Buenos Aires Supreme Court, Julio Conte Grand, also requested a trial jury against Makintach.
On November 18, 2025, in the Annex of the Senate of the province of Buenos Aires, the dismissal of the daughter of Judge Juan Makintach It was voted unanimously, as was the absolute disqualification from holding office.
In the criminal case, the former judge is accused of the crimes of passive bribery, violation of official duties, abuse of authority, embezzlement of public funds and embezzlement of services.
Now, TOC No. 7, led by judges Alberto Ortolani, Pablo Rolón and Alberto Ortolani, will have the task of carrying out the litigation, more than five years after Maradona’s death, which occurred on November 25, 2020 in the country of San Andrés de Tigre due to acute lung edema secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure.
The role of the accused
- Leopoldo Luque: neurologist and former personal physician of the patient. He was the person Diego trusted the most. He considered that it was pertinent to perform surgery for the subdural hematoma at the Olivos Clinic, in November 2020.whose release took place on the 11th of that month.
- Agustina Cosachov: psychiatrist. The professional indicated to the nurses what dosage and what medications they should provide to the former coach.
- Carlos Diaz: psychologist. He met Maradona through the lawyer Matías Morla
- Ricardo Almiron: was one of the nurses in charge of caring for Diego in the gated community next to Dahiana Madridthe only defendant who will go to trial by popular juries.
- Mariano Perroni: Coordinated the tasks of the Medidom nurses in Tigre.
- Nancy Edith Forlini She was the Swiss Medical doctor in charge of coordinating the home confinement of the Villa Fiorito native to Benavídez’s house. The professional He put together the medical team that took care of the former player’s health after his discharge from the Olivos Clinic.
- Pedro Di Spagna: clinical doctor, works in Huracán. Recommend a nutritionist to review the diet of former player of Boca and the Argentine National Team. The nurses, Perroni and Forlini consulted him constantly in the “Tigre” WhatsApp group.
