Restarting the Maradona trial? Judge Makintach is the focus!

Restarting the Maradona trial? Judge Makintach is the focus!

The trial surrounding the death of Argentine football idol Diego Maradona, who died on November 25, 2020, could be reopened following alleged misconduct by judge Julieta Makintach. More than two months after the trial began, lawyers including Fernando Burlando, who represents Maradona's daughters, have asked that Makintach be removed from the panel of judges because of her involvement in a documentary and her seemingly unprofessional behavior. Burlando criticized that she had not acted like a judge but like an actress, which had "compromised" the proceedings, as Mario Baudry, the lawyer for Maradona's former partner, also noted. Baudry suggests restarting the trial in January 2024, while criminal lawyer Adrián Tenca calls for the trial to be declared invalid.

The allegations against Makintach are reinforced by reports of her alleged involvement in unauthorized courtroom filming. Although Makintach denies these allegations, the defendant's lawyers accuse her of malfeasance or corruption. Argentine media also reported that she gave an interview the day before the trial began, raising additional concerns about her impartiality in the case. The trial, which began March 11 and is scheduled to last four months, typically called for two meetings per week.

Background to the Maradona case

The allegations against Maradona's medical supervisors are serious. The prosecution argues that his doctors and nurses gave him inadequate care. Maradona's daughter Gianinna makes serious allegations and accuses the defendants of being more interested in their own pay than in the well-being of her father. If convicted, the seven defendants face prison sentences of between eight and 25 years.

The circumstances of Maradona's death are complex. He died of a heart attack and pulmonary edema after undergoing brain surgery while being cared for in a rented apartment in Buenos Aires. The trial has not only legal but also social implications, as Maradona is one of Argentina's greatest sports legends.

Documentary about Makintach

A film producer has announced that she will create a project about judge Julieta Makintach, but it will not focus on the Maradona trial. This news has only made the situation surrounding the trial even more complicated. Makintach faces not only legal challenges related to her role in the Maradona trial, but also the attention she receives as the subject of a documentary.

Despite the challenges and controversies, the public and media attention to this process is not only in the context of the injustice suffered by Maradona, but also in the light of Argentina's complex social and political history. The trial therefore represents a significant event that addresses both legal and cultural dimensions, similar to the legal investigation of the military junta in the 1980s, in which leading members of the junta were brought to trial for human rights violations, as taz.de reports.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the conflict over the judge and the subsequent legal steps will affect the proceedings. The debate over Makintach's role could reshape the dynamics of the trial and raise both legal and ethical questions that go far beyond the fate of Maradona.