An Argentine judge was removed from her position on Tuesday after causing a mistrial in the negligence case involving late football legend Diego Maradona’s medical team, following her participation in a documentary about the case.
A special panel made up of judges, lawyers, and provincial legislators dismissed Julieta Makintach, 48, from her role and barred her from holding any future judicial position.
Makintach was one of three judges in the now-cancelled trial that arose after Maradona’s death in 2020, when he was recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot after years of struggling with cocaine and alcohol addictions.
She stepped aside after it was revealed that she had been interviewed for a miniseries about the case, potentially violating multiple ethics rules.
Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, two weeks after undergoing surgery.
A day nurse discovered him dead in his bed.
The trial targets Maradona’s medical team over the circumstances of his recovery at a private residence.
Prosecutors have described the football icon’s care in his final days as grossly negligent.
The defendants face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years if found guilty of “homicide with possible intent,” for taking actions they knew could result in death.
The proceedings have focused on the doctors’ choice to let Maradona recuperate at home with limited supervision and medical equipment instead of a proper medical facility.
Makintach denied participating in or authorizing any filming for a documentary about the trial, but footage circulated in Argentine media reportedly showed her being interviewed by a film crew on the eve of the trial.
