Lawyers for Leopoldo Luque, a doctor charged over the 2020 death of Argentine football great Diego Maradona, told a court in closing arguments that their client is innocent and has been made a “scapegoat”. The defence made the case as the trial moved toward its final stage in Buenos Aires.
Defence lawyer Roberto Rallin rejected the prosecution’s view that Maradona’s death in November 2020 could have been foreseen. Another defence lawyer, Francisco Oneto, argued that the star suffered an “acute and unpredictable” heart attack. He told the court on Wednesday that there was no way to predict the fatal outcome.
Prosecutors seek 12-year term for neurosurgeon
Prosecutors have asked for a 12-year prison sentence for Luque, a neurosurgeon who was regarded as a key decision-maker for Maradona at the time of his death. Rallin said the defence was present to show Luque’s innocence through evidence rather than public statements. “Leopoldo Luque has been the scapegoat,” he said.
Maradona died at the age of 60 from a cardiorespiratory crisis combined with pulmonary oedema. He was found dead in bed at a residence in Tigre, north of the capital, which had been rented for his recovery after surgery for a subdural haematoma. His death plunged Argentina into mourning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and tens of thousands of people ignored social distancing rules to pay their respects as he lay in state at the presidential palace.
Dispute over the medical commission’s findings
Luque’s lawyers focused their attack on the conclusions of an interdisciplinary medical commission. The court set up that body in 2021 to give an opinion on the death. Working from the autopsy and other information, the commission said Maradona had a history of heart problems that should have been considered, a finding the prosecution stressed.
The defence disputed that conclusion, saying clinical tests carried out before the surgery that preceded his death showed no heart issues. “It’s so clear that Maradona didn’t have any heart problems in 2020,” Oneto said during closing arguments.
Seven professionals on trial over alleged negligence
Seven healthcare professionals have been on trial since April over potential negligence that allegedly led to the star’s death during his two weeks of recovery. Prosecutors have requested sentences of between four and 12 years for six of the seven defendants.
In its closing arguments, the prosecution condemned what it called Luque’s “inaction”, saying his approach “was always to do nothing” despite the warning signs Maradona was showing. Luque was the most combative defendant throughout the proceedings, often speaking up when he felt he was being implicated. His legal team played audio recordings, presented scientific articles and showed a video of the autopsy, which angered Maradona’s daughters.
Luque told the court that he was an easy target because he had the most contact with Maradona. “I cared deeply for him, I loved him, he was my idol and my friend,” he said. Nicolas D’Albora, who represents medical coordinator Nancy Forlini, also blamed Luque and another doctor for the death, saying they were obliged to guarantee the patient’s health. Forlini faces a 10-year sentence for homicide with intent over an alleged failure to provide basic medical equipment for home care. The defence closing arguments are expected to continue until Thursday.
