Judge in Maradona death trial steps aside after scandal
A judge under fire in the trial over Argentine football legend Diego Maradona's death stepped aside on Tuesday after defense lawyers questioned her impartiality.
Julieta Makintach, one of three judges in the case, said she had 'no choice' but to recuse herself following a furor over her involvement in a documentary touching on the case.
Her exit means Makintach might be replaced in the trial or it might even start over from scratch.
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, aged 60, while recovering in a private home from brain surgery for a blood clot.
His seven-person medical team is on trial over the conditions of his home convalescence, described by prosecutors as grossly negligent.
The trial has been hanging by a thread for the past week after it emerged that Makintach was interviewed for a documentary relating to the case, for which unauthorized recordings were allegedly made inside the courtroom.
Defense lawyers argued Makintach's actions may have constituted a breach of her duty to be impartial, as well as influence peddling and even bribery.
Faced with demands for her recusal, the court suspended the trial a week ago.
Makintach roundly rejected any bias but, under pressure, finally agreed to step down from this case.
'Given the request of all parties, I have no choice but to grant the recusal,' she said.
'Dark, ugly and lonely'
Her removal means the proceedings might be nullified.
At issue is the alleged use of cameras in the courtroom in violation of a ban on filming the trial.
Makintach, 47, denied authorizing any filming during the trial, but her credibility was questioned after a trailer for a documentary showed her being interviewed by a film crew and walking through the courtroom.
Maradona died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema two weeks after going under the knife and was found dead in bed by his day nurse.
The people responsible for his medical care in the final days of his life risk prison terms between eight and 25 years if convicted of homicide with possible intent -- pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death.
The charges relate to their decision to allow him to recover at home and the conditions of his care.
In her testimony, Maradona's daughter Gianinna said her father's carers had kept him in 'a dark, ugly and lonely' place and claimed they seemed more interested in money than his welfare.
Some of the plaintiffs in the case called for a new trial, saying they felt the current proceedings has been tainted by the scandal involving Makintach.
'Everyone now feels that this (trial) is compromised,' said Mario Baudry, the lawyer for Maradona's ex-partner Veronica Ojeda.
'It's healthiest to start over from scratch,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Telefonica investigates potential cyberattack after release of data from Peru
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Spanish Telecom company Telefonica is seen on a satellite transmission van, in Malaga, Spain November 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo MADRID (Reuters) -Spain's Telefonica said on Tuesday it was looking into a potential cyberattack after data allegedly belonging to one million customers in Peru was released on an internet forum. "We are investigating an alleged security breach. The sample released by the actor, which comprises 1 million records, seems to correspond to customers in Peru," a Telefonica spokesperson said. According to a post on X by HackManac - an account tracking cyberattacks around the world - a group calling itself "Dedale" was offering a database containing information on approximately 22 million Telefonica customers. The self-declared hackers have released a sample of 1 million records it said belonged to Telefonica customers in Peru as proof, although the Spanish company has exited the South American country two months ago. In April, Telefonica sold its troubled Peruvian unit to Argentine company Integra Tec International for about 900,000 euros ($1.03 million). ($1 = 0.8768 euros) (Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by David Latona)
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Argentine court declares mistrial in Diego Maradona's death
Football legend Diego Maradona led Argentina to the World Cup in 1986. (EPA Images pic) BUENOS AIRES : A controversial decision by an Argentine judge paved the way for the court to declare a mistrial today in the case concerning the death of football legend Diego Maradona. One of three judges sitting on the bench, Julieta Makintach, resigned from the case on Wednesday, prompting the court to declare the mistrial. Maradona's seven-member medical team has been accused of negligence in his Nov 25, 2020 death as a result of cardiac arrest. Makintach had permitted a forthcoming documentary about the case entitled 'Divine Justice' to be filmed at the trial. Moreover, the prosecution showed clips of the judge walking through the court as part of a 90-second trailer. The trailer caused such a national outcry that Makintach said on Wednesday that she had 'no choice' but to resign from the proceedings. The judges stated that there would be a new trial, but did not indicate when that would occur. In addition, new judges will be selected via a lottery. The trial began on March 11 and dozens of witnesses had already testified. It was expected to conclude in the summer, but now that could be a new starting point. 'I trust we could have a sentence by the end of the year,' said Fernando Burlando, an attorney for Maradona's daughters Dalma and Gianinna Maradona. The family accused the medical team of failing to provide appropriate care for Maradona, 60, after his surgery for a hematoma that formed between his skull and brain. The surgery was performed in early November and he died weeks later during his recovery at a private home. The seven defendants all deny the charges and claim that Maradona fought against them during the recovery period. Maradona led Argentina to the World Cup in 1986 and the football-crazed nation did not capture it again until 2022.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
After 2 months, 40 witnesses, Maradona trial declared null
SAN ISIDRO, Argentina: An Argentine court on Thursday nullified the trial of late football legend Diego Maradona's medical team after a judge stepped down over her role in an unauthorised documentary about the case. In what is widely considered an embarrassment for Argentina's judicial system, judge Maximiliano Savarino said the conduct of his colleague Julieta Makintach had "caused prejudice" to the proceedings, which started in March and had already heard more than 40 witnesses. A new trial will be held from scratch, with a different panel of judges. Makintach, one of three judges, had recused herself on Tuesday after it emerged she had been interviewed for a miniseries about the case, potentially breaking a string of ethics rules. After police raids and a one-week suspension of proceedings, 47-year-old Makintach was accused of violating her impartiality, influence peddling and even bribery over her involvement in the miniseries "Divine Justice." A trailer for the TV show was played in court Tuesday, showing Makintach stalking the halls of justice in high heels as grim details of the footballing hero's demise were relayed. The footage appeared to contain unauthorised recordings allegedly made inside the courtroom -- a violation of court rules. Makintach initially denied authorising any filming during the trial, but her credibility was questioned after the trailer showed her being interviewed by a film crew and walking through the courtroom. The prosecution, the complainants and most of the defense lawyers had asked for a new panel of judges to be appointed and the trial, which they consider tainted, restarted. No date has been set for the new trial, for which judges will be chosen by an internal court lottery. Thursday's ruling can still be appealed, lawyers told AFP, casting doubt on whether the already long-delayed proceedings will resume this year. Maradona -- considered one of the world's greatest ever players -- died in November 2020 aged 60 while recovering from brain surgery. He was found to have died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema -- a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs -- two weeks after going under the knife. His seven-person medical team is on trial over the conditions of his home convalescence, described by prosecutors as grossly negligent. The team faces prison terms of between eight and 25 years if convicted of "homicide with possible intent" -- pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to death. Prosecutors allege the former footballer was abandoned to his fate for a "prolonged, agonising period" before his death.
