A lawyer representing Leopoldo Luque, the doctor charged in connection with the 2020 death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, argued during closing statements on Wednesday that his client was innocent and unfairly targeted as a “scapegoat.
Attorney Roberto Rallin dismissed the prosecution’s claim that Maradona’s death in November 2020 was foreseeable. Another defense lawyer, Francisco Oneto, emphasized that Maradona died of an “acute and unpredictable” heart attack, stating, “There was absolutely no possibility of predicting this fatal outcome.”
Prosecutors have called for a 12-year prison sentence for Luque, a neurosurgeon described as a key decision-maker in Maradona’s care. “We are here to proclaim Luque’s innocence, not with television slogans, but with evidence,” Rallin said. “Leopoldo Luque has been the scapegoat.”
Maradona, aged 60, died from cardiorespiratory arrest and pulmonary edema. He was found in his bed at a house in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, where he was recovering from surgery for a subdural hematoma. His death plunged Argentina into mourning, with tens of thousands defying Covid-19 restrictions to pay their respects as he lay in state at the presidential palace.
Since April, seven healthcare professionals have been on trial for alleged negligence during Maradona’s two-week convalescence. Prosecutors are seeking sentences between four and twelve years for six of the seven defendants. In its closing arguments, the prosecution criticized Luque’s “inaction,” claiming he repeatedly failed to respond to warning signs in Maradona’s condition.
Luque’s defense team contested the findings of a 2021 court-appointed medical commission, which concluded that Maradona’s known heart problems should have been considered in his care—a point the prosecution stressed. The defense argued that clinical tests before Maradona’s final surgery showed no evidence of heart issues. “It’s clear Maradona didn’t have any heart problems in 2020,” Oneto insisted.
Throughout the trial, Luque was the most vocal defendant, often speaking out when implicated. His lawyers presented audio recordings, scientific articles, and even video footage from Maradona’s autopsy, drawing the ire of the footballer’s daughters. “It’s easy to attack me because I was closest to Maradona,” Luque said in court, adding, “The only one who would defend me would be Diego. I cared for him, loved him—he was my idol and my friend.”
Meanwhile, defense attorney Nicolas D’Albora, representing medical coordinator Nancy Forlini, sought to shift blame back to Luque and another doctor, claiming they bore responsibility for Maradona’s health. Forlini faces a possible 10-year sentence for alleged failure to provide essential home care equipment.
The defense’s closing arguments are expected to continue through Thursday.
