A former bodyguard of Diego Maradona has been arrested on suspicion of perjury in the ongoing trial of seven health professionals accused of criminal negligence over the late footballer's medical care.
More than four years on from the death of Maradona and the Argentine's medical team are on trial for their alleged failings in the World Cup winner's home care, which has been labelled "reckless and deficient" by chief prosecutor Patricio Ferrari.
Earlier this month, Ferrari suggested that the former Barcelona, Napoli and Boca Juniors forward was in a "house of horror" when he died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60.
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After having a blood clot removed on his brain, Maradona suffered a fatal heart attack at his house in Tigre, near Buenos Aires, just two weeks after being released from hospital following surgery.
It is argued that the 60-year-old was in no fit state to return home so soon after the operation, with Ferrari stating: "You will see during this trial what reckless home care is, reckless, deficient, without precedent, without any type of control during the period that ended with Diego’s death."
In total, seven healthcare professionals are on trial accused of negligence in Maradona’s death, including former bodyguard Julio Cesar Coria, who had worked with the Argentine for five years and was present at his home when he died of heart failure.
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Coria was called as a witness in the ongoing trial because of his close relationship with Maradona, but chief prosecutor Ferrari would later warn the witness of contradictions in his statement.
Ferrari alleged that Coria had lied when he said he hadn’t spoken with Maradona's medic Leopoldo Luque before the footballer’s death, and also claimed he wasn’t the neurosurgeon's friend.
The prosecutor revealed a series of WhatsApp messages between the former bodyguard and Luque, which included an invitation to a barbecue and conversations about Maradona’s health.
Ferrari also claimed Coria had perjured himself by failing to mention in his initial statement that psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov had attempted CPR, but later claimed from the witness stand she had tried to revive him.
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On Tuesday, the criminal court ordered Coria to be investigated for false testimony. He was then arrested after being accused of lying under oath.
As mentioned above, Coria had worked with Maradona for five years. He tried to revive him by giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Fernando Burlando, a lawyer representing Maradona's family, didn't mince his words in the courtroom this month as he accused the health professionals of 'murdering' the former footballer.
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“He was murdered. And for that task, someone who is still hiding in the shadows called on a team of health professionals to kill him in a silent but equally cruel way,” Burlando said.
"There is an economic interest, a dark side to this situation that has not been incorporated so far … People who wanted to benefit from Diego’s death."
The seven healthcare professionals on trial include Maradona’s brain surgeon and his psychiatrist. They are accused of what is known in Argentina as culpable homicide, a crime similar to involuntary manslaughter.
All have pleaded not guilty. If convicted, they may face up to 25 years in prison.
Topics: Diego Maradona, Argentina
Jack Kenmare