Maradona family divided over sentences at death trial

Diego Maradona's family are sharply divided over the sentences that should be handed down to his medical team in connection with his death on November 25, 2020. The star of the 1986 World Cup football tournament passed away at the age of 60 while recovering from surgery for a brain clot. Seven medical professionals have been on trial since April concerning Maradona's demise.

They are accused of providing subpar care leading up to his death at a private residence where he was undergoing convalescence. However, his medical team denies the charges against them.

His daughters Gianinna and Dalma are demanding severe punishments for the six of the seven accused medical professionals, with lawyer Fernando Burlando branding them as responsible for Maradona's death due to their "brutal indifference." They are seeking up to 15 years in prison for each of the individuals. Meanwhile, Maradona's three sisters Rita, Claudia, and Ana are advocating for sentences of up to 10 years for five of the accused medical staff.

Their lawyer, Pablo Jurado, particularly called for harsher punishment for Nancy Forlini, the medical coordinator, in light of her role in Maradona's care.

The youngest son of Maradona, 13-year-old Diego Fernando Maradona, was represented by a lawyer who requested 16-year sentences for Maradona's personal physician Leopoldo Luque and Forlini. State prosecutors, meanwhile, are preparing to close their arguments with a call for guilty verdicts against six of the seven accused medical professionals, with prison sentences ranging from four to 12 years.

The prosecution also suggested that Luque should receive the harshest punishment. The closing arguments are expected to conclude by the end of October, with the court in the Buenos Aires suburb of San Isidro reserving its decision until a later date.