A forensic expert took the stand as the final witness for the defense in the closely watched trial over the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, offering testimony that pushes back against prosecutors’ central claim.
According to the official expert, Maradona likely died of sudden cardiac death, a condition in which the heart abruptly stops functioning. Crucially, the witness said doctors cannot rule out that COVID-19 played a role in his death, raising the possibility that an undetected or unaddressed viral infection contributed to his fatal heart failure.
Maradona, one of the most celebrated soccer players in history, died in November 2020 at his home in Buenos Aires province at age 60, just weeks after undergoing brain surgery. Argentine prosecutors have since charged several members of his medical team, including doctors and health professionals, with homicide, arguing that negligent care hastened his death.
The defense has used expert testimony like this to argue that Maradona’s death stemmed from natural, unpredictable causes rather than medical malpractice. This latest statement adds a new layer of complexity to a case that has drawn intense public attention across Argentina and the wider soccer world, as it directly challenges the prosecution’s narrative of negligence.
For the full details, read the original report at El Diario de Hoy.
Source: Maradona sufrió muerte súbita y no se descarta covid-19, dice testigo en juicio (El Diario de Hoy).
Image: One Way Stock, BY-ND 2.0 (via Openverse).