International News

Judge Quits Maradona Trial Amid Scandal Over Miniseries Role

Written by Jerry Alomatu on May 28, 2025

News Views: 192

The high-profile trial over the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has been thrown into uncertainty after Judge Julieta Makintach recused herself on Tuesday, following revelations that she was involved in filming a dramatic miniseries based on the ongoing proceedings.

Makintach, one of the three presiding judges, stepped down after intense backlash and accusations of breaching judicial ethics. The controversy erupted when a trailer from the miniseries — titled Divine Justice was screened in court, showing her dramatized role in investigating Maradona’s final days. The footage reportedly included unauthorized recordings from inside the courtroom, triggering allegations of misconduct, bias, and influence peddling.

The courtroom quickly descended into chaos, with prosecutors and defense attorneys trading barbs and Maradona’s family breaking down in tears. Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari criticized Makintach for acting “like an actress and not a judge,” while defense lawyer Rodolfo Baque shouted “trash!” at the screen during the trailer’s showing.

The scandal has cast a shadow over the entire trial, in which seven medical professionals face potential prison sentences of eight to 25 years for alleged negligence leading to Maradona’s death in November 2020. The football icon died of heart failure while recovering from brain surgery at home, a setting prosecutors argue was unfit and poorly supervised.

Maradona’s daughter, Gianinna, has described his final living conditions as “dark, ugly, and lonely,” alleging that his carers prioritized financial gain over his well-being.

With the trial now in limbo, the court is set to rule on Thursday whether to restart the case entirely. Some of the plaintiffs, including Maradona’s former partner Veronica Ojeda, are calling for a complete reset, citing a compromised process.