In the ongoing Diego Maradona case, critics have accused the judge of behaving more like a movie star than a courtroom official. Her dramatic actions and emotional reactions have raised questions about her professionalism and focus on justice.
Trouble Hits Maradona’s Death Trial
A judge in Argentina has stepped down from the trial investigating the death of football legend Diego Maradona. The judge, Julieta Makintach, left the case after facing criticism for appearing in a documentary about the trial. This unexpected twist has put the entire court process on hold and raised serious concerns about fairness and professionalism.
What Is This Trial About?
Diego Maradona, one of football’s biggest stars, passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60. He was recovering at home in Buenos Aires from surgery for a brain blood clot when he died of a heart attack.
Now, seven people from his medical team—including a neurosurgeon, a doctor, and a nurse—are facing charges of negligent homicide. Prosecutors believe that Maradona’s death could have been avoided and say the care he received was careless, poor, and completely unprofessional. All the accused deny these charges and claim that Maradona refused more medical help and should have stayed home longer after his operation.
If found guilty, they could face between 8 to 25 years in jail.
The Judge’s Shocking Exit
The trial started on March 11 and was supposed to continue until July. However, it has now been paused because of a major controversy involving Judge Julieta Makintach.
What happened? A trailer for a documentary series called Divine Justice was shown in court. It featured Judge Makintach and seemed to include footage filmed without proper court permission. This led to strong reactions from lawyers, family members, and even the public.
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari accused the judge of acting more like a movie star than a serious judge. He said she behaved “like an actress.” Defense lawyer Rodolfo Baque shouted “Trash!” in the courtroom after watching the trailer. The scene turned emotional when Maradona’s daughter Gianinna and his former partner Veronica Ojeda cried while watching the footage.
In response to the backlash, Judge Makintach said she had “no choice” but to remove herself from the trial. Court rules clearly ban unauthorized filming, and her role in the documentary was seen as a big mistake.
What Happens Next?
The future of the trial is now uncertain. The court must decide whether the case can continue with a new judge or if it has to restart completely. A decision is expected on Thursday.
Lawyer Mario Baudry, who represents Maradona’s former partner, said that the case now feels “compromised” and it might be “healthier to start over from scratch.”
To make things even more complicated, a separate trial is also planned. In July, an eighth member of Maradona’s medical team will face a different trial by jury.
Conclusion
The trial meant to give justice for Diego Maradona’s death is now surrounded by drama, emotions, and doubts. What was supposed to be a search for truth is now facing delays and possible restarts. Fans, family, and legal experts are all waiting to see what comes next. Will justice finally be served, or will the case remain lost in courtroom confusion?
