A police officer who was among the first to arrive at Diego Maradona’s death scene testified on Tuesday that he saw no “medical items” in the room where the football legend was receiving post-operative care at home.
Speaking at the trial of seven healthcare professionals accused of homicide, Officer Lucas Farias told the court in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, that the absence of essential medical equipment stood out to him. “I didn’t see medical items in the room. I didn’t see serums that I think should be part of home hospitalization,” he said, referring to the lack of an intravenous drip.
Farias also described his shock at seeing Maradona’s condition. “What first caught my attention about Diego Maradona was his face-up position with an abdomen so swollen it seemed about to explode,” he recalled. “I was shocked to see Maradona in that state—I never thought I’d find myself faced with that image.”
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, while recovering at home from brain surgery for a blood clot. His death was attributed to heart failure and acute pulmonary edema—a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs.
The seven medical professionals on trial include a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a medical coordinator, a nursing coordinator, a doctor, and a night nurse. Prosecutors accuse them of being criminally negligent, alleging Maradona was abandoned to a “prolonged, agonizing period” before his death.
If convicted of “homicide with possible intent”—a charge that implies knowingly pursuing actions that could cause death—the defendants face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
The trial, which began last week after years of delay, is expected to run until July, with nearly 120 witnesses scheduled to testify.
