Latest news with #PatricioFerrari
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Court to rule on future of Maradona caregivers' trial
An Argentine court is set to rule Thursday on how to proceed with the trial of late football legend Diego Maradona's medical team after a judge stepped down over her role in an unauthorized documentary about the case. The prosecution, the complainants and most of the defense lawyers have asked for a new panel of judges to be appointed and the trial, which they consider tainted, restarted. Julieta Makintach, one of three judges in the trial that opened in March, recused herself on Tuesday after it emerged she had been interviewed for a miniseries about the case, potentially breaking a string of ethics rules. Maradona died in November 2020 aged 60 while recovering from brain surgery. His seven-person medical team is on trial over the conditions of his home convalescence after major surgery, described by prosecutors as grossly negligent. If the trial is reset, the 20 hearings in which more than 40 witnesses have testified to date will be nullified. "We need to have a new trial. Sometimes you have to take a step back to be able to take two forward," Patricio Ferrari, one of the prosecutors in the case, said Wednesday. "When a new court is formed with three capable judges, which is what we are requesting, we want to restart the trial this year and finally reach a verdict," he told Radio La Red. The two remaining judges have scheduled a hearing for Thursday, where they are expected to announce their decision on how to proceed. Maradona's medical team face 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. tev/mlr/mlm/cms
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Diego Maradona trial in doubt as judge steps down after ‘acting like an actress'
A judge overseeing the trial of Diego Maradona's medical staff into alleged negligence over the former soccer star's death has stepped down after criticism over her appearance in a forthcoming documentary about the case. Judge Julieta Makintach — who said she had 'no choice' but to leave the case — was one of the three judges in the trial of seven healthcare professionals from Maradona's medical team, who were charged with negligent homicide relating to the former World Cup-winner's death. Advertisement Judge Makintach, 47, was accused by prosecutor Patricio Ferrari of behaving 'like an actress and not a judge', leading to the case being adjourned. Makintach appeared as one of the lead figures in the trailer of documentary series Divine Justice, which details the events between Maradona's death and the start of the trial in March 2025. Prosecutor Ferrari showed the trailer to the San Isidro court and requested they review her role due to filming during an ongoing trial. Mario Baudry, the lawyer representing Maradona's former partner Veronica Ojeda, said the case had been 'compromised' by Makintach's appearance and called for the trial 'to start over from scratch'. The trial began in Argentina two months ago with more than 100 witnesses testifying and was expected to last until July, but its timeframe has now been thrown into doubt. Multiple reports indicate a decision on whether or not the trial should be restarted could come as soon as Thursday. The defendants in the case are neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a medical co-ordinator, a nursing co-ordinator, a doctor and the night nurse. They have been charged with allegedly failing to provide adequate care for Maradona. Prosecutors allege the carers were 'reckless, deficient and unprecedented' in their role overseeing Maradona's wellbeing. The defendants argue that Maradona refused additional treatment and ignored their advice for him to remain at home for a longer period following his brain operation. Each defendant faces between eight and 25 years in prison if convicted on the charge of 'homicide with possible intent'. Maradona died in November 2020, aged 60, of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, at a house outside Buenos Aires in Argentina. He was recovering from surgery for a hematoma that formed between his skull and brain. Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and two Italian league titles with Napoli, is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Maradona trial on brink of COLLAPSE after glam judge appears in glitzy doc about ongoing case over football icon's death
THE trial of late Argentine football superstar Diego Maradona's medical team is on the brink of collapse after a glam judge appeared in a glitzy documentary about the ongoing case. Julieta Makintach - dubbed the "judge of God" - recused herself after a trailer for the six-part mini-series was embarrassingly played to the court. 9 9 9 9 It emerged that Makintach, 47, had been shooting the series called Divine Justice about the case, potentially breaking a string of ethics rules. The shocking preview begins with Makintach strutting through the entrance of what seems to be a court house in high heels as she takes the lift to the upper floors. News broadcasts of footy legend Maradona's death are also featured in the trailer, as well as an excerpt of an emergency call asking for an ambulance. It concludes with Makintach preparing documents at a desk. The bizarre footage suggests unauthorised recordings were shot inside the courtroom, which constitutes a breach of judicial rules. According to a script, the mini-series would follow Makintach as she "reconstructs the death of Maradona and certain painful milestones of his life related to abandonment." The trailer preview was one of the various pieces of evidence seized by cops in raids last week as the trail was suspended. Tuesday's hearing was marked by insults, recriminations, shouting and tears. In a bitter exchange, prosecutor Patricio Ferrari accused Makintach of behaving "like an actress and not a judge." He said: "[Makintach] spoke about Maradona, the trial, how it was unfolding. "She has been completely influenced by her leading role, by the centrality of her figure. "She lied to our faces for three months. I demand that the court recuse judge Makintach." As the trailer was played, defence lawyer Rodolfo Baque jumped out of his chair to shout "trash" at the judge. The late footballer's daughter Gianinna Maradona tried to calm him before she and Maradona's former partner, Veronica Ojeda, both began to sob. Makintach sat with her head bowed, biting her lip and eventually said she had "no choice" but to recuse herself as one of the case's three justices. Her removal is an embarrassment for Argentina's judicial system and could yet derail a trial being watched by football fans worldwide. Maradona - considered one of the world's greatest ever football players - had been recovering at his home in Buenos Aires from surgery on a brain blood clot when he tragically died of a heart attack aged 60. Seven members of the legend's medical team are being prosecuted for negligent homicide over his death in November 2020. 9 9 9 9 Those responsible for his medical care face prison terms between eight and 25 years if convicted of homicide with possible intent. The charges relate to their decision to allow him to recover from major surgery at home, and the conditions of his care. They deny the charges. The medical team on trial includes a neurosurgeon, a doctor and a night nurse. The defendants have claimed Maradona refused any further treatment and should have stayed home for longer following his operation. Gianinna Maradona has claimed her father was kept in "a dark, ugly and lonely" place and that his carers were more interested in money than his welfare. The court will decide on Thursday whether the trial will go ahead or be scrapped and then restarted. Some of the plaintiffs have called for a new trial, saying they felt proceedings have been tainted by scandal. The lawyer for Maradona's ex-partner Ojeda said that "everyone now feels that this is compromised," adding that it's "healthiest to start over from scratch". Glam Makintach denied being paid for the documentary and said that she had given "an interview to a childhood friend about the justice system". Makintach added: "That material was raw, it was intimate. It was on a Sunday at 5pm. Does that give it the label of forbidden, hidden, illicit?" According to Argentinian media, prosecutor Ferrari said: "On Sunday March 9, before the trial began, Makintach entered the building with six people. "And if there is a script and a trailer, it wasn't just an interview. "There were photos, footage. There was no authorisation for this irregular entry. "All the aggravating circumstances clearly exist that demonstrate the loss of independence and impartiality of the member summoned to this trial." 9
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Future of Maradona trial in doubt as scandal-hit judge steps down
A key judge in the trial of the late Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona's medical team has stepped down amid a scandal that has cast doubt on the future of the high-profile case. Julieta Makintach, who has been called the 'judge of God', recused herself after it emerged she had been shooting a racy miniseries about the months-old trial, potentially breaking a string of ethics rules. Maradona died in November 2020, at the age of 60, while recovering from brain surgery. His seven-person medical team is on trial in Buenos Aires over the conditions of his home convalescence, described by prosecutors as grossly negligent. After a series of police raids and a one-week suspension of the case, Makintach, 47 was on Tuesday accused of violating her impartiality, of influence-peddling and bribery over her role in the documentary miniseries Divine Justice. A trailer for the feature was played in court showing Makintach stalking the halls of justice in high heels as grim details of the footballing legend's demise were relayed. According to a script, the miniseries would follow Makintach as she 'reconstructs the death of Maradona and certain painful milestones of his life related to abandonment'. Footage appeared to contain unauthorised recordings allegedly made inside the courtroom, a violation of court rules. Tuesday's hearing was marked by insults, recriminations, shouting and tears. In a bitter exchange, the prosecutor, Patricio Ferrari, accused Makintach of behaving 'like an actress and not a judge'. As the trailer was played, the defence lawyer Rodolfo Baque jumped out of his chair to shout 'trash!' at the judge. Gianinna Maradona, Maradona's daughter, tried to calm him, before she and Maradona's former partner Veronica Ojeda both began sobbing uncontrollably. Makintach sat with her head bowed, biting her lip and eventually said she had 'no choice' but to recuse herself as one of the case's three justices. Her removal is an embarrassment for Argentina's judicial system and could yet derail a trial being watched around the world. Maradona – considered one of the world's greatest players – died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema. Those responsible for his medical care face prison terms between eight and 25 years if convicted of homicide with possible intent. The charges relate to their decision to allow him to recover from major surgery at home, and the conditions of his care. Gianinna Maradona has claimed her father was kept in 'a dark, ugly and lonely' place and that his carers were more interested in money than his welfare. The court will decide on Thursday whether the trial will go ahead or be scrapped and then restarted. Some of the plaintiffs have called for a new trial, saying they felt proceedings have been tainted by scandal. 'Everyone now feels that this is compromised,' said Mario Baudry, Ojeda's lawyer. 'It's healthiest to start over from scratch,' he added.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Judge in Diego Maradona case accused of behaving like an 'actress'
A judge in Argentina has stood down from the trial of Diego Maradona's medical staff after being criticised for taking part in a documentary about the case. Seven members of the legendary footballer's medical team have been charged with negligent homicide relating to his death in 2020. They deny the Patricio Ferrari accused Judge Julieta Makintach of behaving "like an actress and not a judge".She was one of three judges in the case which has been adjourned. A decision about whether a new trial will be ordered will be made on Thursday. Maradona had been recovering at his home in Buenos Aires from surgery on a brain blood clot in November 2020 when he died of a heart attack, aged allege his death could have been avoided and describe the care given as "reckless, deficient and unprecedented".The medical team on trial includes a neurosurgeon, a doctor and a night nurse. They claim the football star refused further treatment and should have stayed at home for longer after his convicted, they face between eight and 25 years in prison. The long-awaited trial began on 11 March and was expected to last until July however its future has been thrown into doubt. Judge Makintach said she had "no choice" but to excuse herself from the case. It is a violation of court rules for unauthorised filming to take place. As a trailer for the documentary series Divine Justice was played in court, defence lawyer Rodolfo Baque shouted "trash!" at Judge Makintach. Maradona's daughter Gianinna and his former partner Veronica Ojeda both cried after seeing the footage. Ms Ojeda's lawyer Mario Baudry said there was a feeling that the case had now been "compromised" and it was "healthiest to start over from scratch".The court will decide whether the trial can continue with a new judge or whether it will have to start again from the beginning. In July, an eighth member of Maradona's medical team will face a separate trial by jury.
