Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque testified Thursday in a trial examining Diego Maradona’s death, declaring his innocence and expressing love for the soccer legend. Maradona died of a heart attack on November 25, 2020, while recovering at home from subdural hematoma surgery. Seven health professionals, including Luque, face charges of negligent homicide carrying a maximum 25-year prison sentence.
This is the second trial into Maradona’s death. The first was nullified nearly a year ago after a judge on that panel was found to have engaged in judicial misconduct.
Leopoldo Luque, the neurosurgeon testifying in a trial over Diego Maradona’s death, declared his innocence Thursday in San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires. “Soy inocente y lamento mucho su muerte,” he stated in court. “Yo lo amaba, era mi ídolo.”
Maradona died of a heart attack on November 25, 2020, while recovering at home from subdural hematoma surgery. He was 60 years old. The surgery had taken place two weeks earlier.
The Trial and the Charges
Seven health professionals stand trial on charges of homicidio simple por dolo eventual—simple homicide with eventual malice—carrying a maximum 25-year prison sentence. In addition to Luque, the defendants are psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Díaz, physicians Nancy Forlini and Pedro Di Spagna, nursing company representative Mariano Perroni, and nurse Ricardo Almirón.
This proceeding marks the second judicial effort to address Maradona’s death; the first trial was nullified nearly a year ago after a judge on the original panel was found to have engaged in judicial misconduct.
Prosecution’s Case and Defense Response
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari argued that those overseeing Maradona’s recovery “incumplieron todos los deberes a su cargo”—failed all their duties—and ultimately “condenándolo a la muerte,” condemned him to death.
Luque’s testimony contradicted several prosecution claims. He stated he was not in charge of Maradona’s home care recovery. As a neurosurgeon specializing in spinal conditions, his responsibilities were limited. “Yo soy neurocirujano subespecializado en columnas,” he explained.
Medical Facts in Dispute
Regarding cardiac care, Luque testified that Maradona had received no heart medication since 2007, when cardiologist Alfredo Cahe served as his personal physician. Cahe died before the trial began.
Luque rejected the allegation that Maradona suffered 12 hours of agony before his death. The swelling observed on the body, he testified, resulted from cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed on the day he died, not from medical negligence during the preceding recovery period. Acute swelling from CPR can develop within minutes, he explained.
Testimony from the other six defendants is expected to continue.