Maradona's Family Wants Tough Punishments for Medical Team

Diego Maradona’s family on Wednesday demanded that his medical team get harsh prison sentences. Two of his daughters called their actions “murder.”

Seven medical professionals have been on trial since April. They are facing charges over Maradona's death on November 25, 2020. He died while recovering from surgery for a brain clot.

Maradona, a star of the 1986 World Cup, died at 60 from heart failure and fluid in his lungs. This happened just two weeks after his surgery.

His medical team is accused of giving very poor care before his death. This happened at a rented private home where he was recovering. They deny these charges.

The family is not united on how harsh the punishment should be for the medical team. A lawyer for two of Maradona’s daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, called the actions of his caregivers “murder.” He asked that six of the seven accused face up to 15 years in prison.

“They killed a mythological hero,” said lawyer Fernando Burlando. He accused the defendants of showing “brutal indifference” to Maradona’s fate.

Meanwhile, the lawyer for Maradona’s three sisters, Rita, Claudia, and Ana, asked for sentences of up to 10 years for five of the seven accused. His lawyer, Pablo Jurado, said medical coordinator Nancy Forlini should get the toughest punishment.

On Tuesday, a lawyer for Maradona’s youngest son, 13-year-old Diego Fernando Maradona, asked for 16-year sentences for the player’s personal doctor Leopoldo Luque and Forlini.

State prosecutors started their closing arguments last week. They called for guilty verdicts against six of the seven accused. They suggested prison terms ranging from four to 12 years.

Prosecutors also said that Luque should get the toughest punishment. The closing arguments will continue until the end of October.

The court in San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires where Maradona died, is expected to give its judgment at a later date.