An expert who participated in Diego Maradona’s autopsy testified on Thursday that the state of the late football legend’s body indicated he likely died “in agony.”
This testimony was given during the trial of seven medical professionals accused of homicide in connection with Maradona’s death.
Forensic doctor Mauricio Casinelli revealed that water had been accumulating in Maradona’s lungs for “at least 10 days” prior to his death, a result of heart failure and liver cirrhosis. He emphasized that the doctors and nurses responsible for Maradona’s care should have detected these symptoms.
Casinelli also noted that Maradona’s heart “weighed almost twice as much as normal,” which he said would have caused him “agony” for at least 12 hours before his death. Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, while recovering at home from brain surgery to address a blood clot. He had long struggled with cocaine and alcohol addiction.
Prosecutors have described Maradona’s final days as a “horror theater,” claiming he was left to suffer for a “prolonged, agonizing period.” The medical team, charged with “homicide with possible intent,” faces prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years. This charge implies they knowingly pursued a course of action that could lead to their patient’s death.
Casinelli criticized the home where Maradona died, stating it was not a “suitable place for home hospitalization.” He also testified that Maradona died from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema—a condition where fluid builds up in the lungs—two weeks after undergoing surgery.
The trial, which is expected to last until July, will include testimony from nearly 120 witnesses.