Maradona trial verdict set for December 22 as daughter demands justice

The verdict in the 2020 trial surrounding the death of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona will be announced on December 22, following six months of legal proceedings. Seven healthcare workers faced accusations of negligence in Maradona's untimely demise. Yesterday, the trial concluded with concise remarks from Maradona's daughter, Dalma, and some of the defendants.

Dalma Maradona expressed her hope that her father would receive the justice he rightfully deserves, reflecting the common sentiment of those affected. Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's primary physician and the primary defendant, maintained his innocence.

Maradona succumbed to heart failure and pulmonary edema at the age of 60, following his hospitalization for minor neurosurgery on November 25, 2020. His death occurred in his residence in Tigre, near Buenos Aires, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, causing widespread mourning in the nation.

Prosecutors sought prison terms ranging from four to twelve years for six of the seven accused, with the most severe penalty -- twelve years -- sought for Luque. During the closing arguments on Wednesday, Luque's defense team dismissed the prosecution's claim that Maradona's death was predictable, referring to their client as a "scapegoat" in the case.