The trial of health care workers who treated late footballer Diego Maradona shortly before his death could be thrown out after a key judge stepped down Tuesday.
Julieta Makintach recused herself after it was revealed that she has been taking part in a documentary about the high-profile case.
The case was adjourned last week after a series of police raids which led to Makintach, 47, being accused on Tuesday of violating impartiality rules, of influence peddling and bribery over her role in the “Divine Justice” miniseries.
Why is the judge stepping down?
In court on Tuesday, a trailer for the documentary was played which said it would follow Makintach as she “reconstructs the death of Maradona and certain painful milestones of his life related to abandonment.”
Some of the footage appeared to feature recordings allegedly made from inside the courtroom, which would be a violation of court rules.
During the tense exchanges, prosecutor Patricio Ferrari accused Makintach of “behaving like an actress and not a judge.”
The two remaining judges, Maximiliano Savarino and Veronica Di Tomasso, are expected to announce on Thursday whether the trial will proceed or a if new trial will be ordered.
What is the trial about?
Diego Maradona, considered one of the world’s best ever players who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, died in November 2020 of a cardiac arrest aged 60 while he was recovering at home from brain surgery for a blood clot.
He had spent years battling cocaine and alcohol addictions.
for the alleged negligent homicide of the late soccer legend.
The defendants, who all deny the charges, face between eight and 25 years in prison if found guilty.
Edited by: John Silk
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