It is still unclear whether Diego Maradona died of natural causes or due to medical negligence. However, his daughter, Gianinna Maradona, filed a lawsuit alleging negligence, which has led to a trial involving seven of the eight medical professionals originally implicated.
The case has now taken a dramatic turn as a key judge has stepped down. Judge Julieta Makinatash, who is widely known in Argentina as the “Judge of God,” has withdrawn from the proceedings.
Makinatash is facing accusations of violating legal ethics. These surfaced after the release of a mini-series titled Divine Justice, which documents the final days of Maradona’s life. It was revealed that she allowed months of courtroom footage to be filmed for the series—an act many consider a serious breach of judicial conduct and legality. When the trailer was shown in court, tensions flared, and prosecutor Patricio Ferrari accused her of behaving more like an actress than a judge.
Her resignation has raised concerns about the future of the trial and whether the judicial process will be carried out properly. Maradona passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery. His daughter has alleged that the post-surgery rehabilitation care took place in an unclean and unsuitable rented house.
If the accused medical professionals are found guilty, they could face prison sentences ranging from 8 to 25 years.
