The trial over the death of Argentine football superstar Diego Maradona is set to relaunch after August winter break, as the Argentine judiciary returns from recess. The first order of business for the trio of judges will be to decide whether the trial by jury of nurse Dahiana Madrid, one of eight people accused of Maradona’s death, will continue or not. 

Madrid was granted the special trial by the first court to head the case, composed by Maximiliano Savarino, Verónica Di Tommaso and Julieta Mackintach. However, Maradona family lawyers requested that all proceedings be deemed a mistrial after the initial trial was declared null and void. 

The proceedings fell apart after it was determined that Mackintach had taken part in “multiple discussions with witnesses and lawyers” during breaks in the daily proceedings, part of her involvement in clandestine trial documentary “Justicia Divina.”

The new court will have to determine whether Madrid’s trial by jury can continue, or if the decision to grant her a differentiated process falls within the decisions that have been made void due to Makintach’s actions.

Hearings for the seven other defendants in the Maradona trial will finally take place after several delays to adjudicate a court for the case. The Argentine judiciary is set to return from recess on August 1, with hearings to be scheduled from that point onwards. 

Judge Pablo Rolón, from San Isidro’s 5th Criminal Court, was selected via random draw on July 15, and will be heading the case alongside Roberto Gaig and Alberto Ortolani.

Delays with judges selection

The new trio of judges was named after the case fell to the San Isidro 7th Criminal Court, headed by Roberto Gaig, Alejandro Lago, and María Coelho. However, Coelho stepped down immediately, due to her involvement in Madrid’s case. Lago would also excuse himself after filing a request to step down on July 4, arguing medical reasons that render him unable to face the “intensity and emotional burden of the trial.”

Eight people stand accused of failing to administer proper medical care for Maradona, who died on November 25, 2020. The list includes Maradona’s main medical advisor, Leopoldo Luque, as well as the star’s psychiatrist, Agustina Cosachov, and psychologist, Carlos Díaz, medical care coordinators Nancy Forlini and Mariano Perroni, designated doctor Pedro Di Spagna, and nurses Madrid and Ricardo Almirón.

The first trial was originally scheduled for June 2024 but was repeatedly delayed until it started in March 2025.  There is yet to be announced a date for a new hearing.