Maradona trial on hold as kidney test evidence mix-up raises doubts

San Isidro, Argentina - The ongoing trial regarding the death of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona was halted on Thursday following allegations that kidney test results submitted to the court were mistakenly attributed to Maradona's father. Seven healthcare professionals are currently facing charges of criminal negligence concerning Maradona's care prior to his passing at the age of 60 in November 2020.

The initial trial was abruptly dismissed two and a half months ago due to a revelation that one of the judges involved had participated in a covert documentary about the case. A fresh trial commenced in April, but it, too, encountered controversy. The defense argued that the kidney test evidence presented during the trial belonged to Maradona's father, who passed away in 2015, rather than to the World Cup-winning star himself.

The court adjourned until August 27 to determine if the tests indeed correspond to Diego Armando Maradona or another individual, according to presiding judge Alberto Gaig. Maradona succumbed to heart failure and acute pulmonary edema at a rented property in Buenos Aires' Tigre suburb, two weeks after undergoing brain surgery for a clot.

His medical team is being accused of providing substandard care leading up to his demise. The prosecution contends that the alleged mix-up of test results does not undermine their case. The defense remains steadfast in their denial of these accusations. If it is confirmed that the test results actually belong to Maradona's father, it could potentially undermine the credibility of the medical commission investigating the circumstances surrounding Maradona's death, thereby bolstering the defense's position.

This commission has been highly critical of the care Maradona received in his final days. On Tuesday, a nephrologist testified that the former player, who had a history of cocaine abuse, was grappling with chronic kidney disease, which should have raised a red flag for his caregivers. He further stated that Maradona should have undergone daily blood tests, yet there was no evidence of any blood being extracted during his two-week home recovery period.

Agustin Varela, a lawyer representing one of the accused, nurse Nancy Forlini, pointed out that some of the kidney tests dated back to 2015 and could not have been belonging to Maradona the player, as he was residing in Dubai at that time. Another lawyer for Forlini, Nicolas D Albora, however, ruled out any intention to seek a mistrial, stating, "I want this case to end so that my client knows her judicial fate."