Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque says Maradona would defend him in death trial

Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, the lead defendant in the criminal trial over Diego Maradona’s death, told the court that the football legend “would be the only person who would tell the truth and defend me.” He argued that Maradona was fully lucid when he left Clínica Olivos after surgery for a subdural hematoma on 3 November 2020 and chose to continue recovery at his home in Tigre, rejecting a recommendation for specialized rehabilitation.

Intensive‑care specialist Fernando Villarejo testified that he disagreed with the decision to transfer Maradona to home care, saying the patient “was not suitable for home care” and needed the resources of a dedicated facility. Other witnesses, including cardiologists and the Swiss Medical coordinator Nancy Forlini, confirmed that the autopsy identified an acute pulmonary edema with chronic cardiomyopathy as the cause of death, a finding Luque contested, insisting no edema was present.

The trial, which began in April 2024, also charges psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Díaz, nurse coordinator Mariano Perroni and others with homicide. If convicted, defendants face up to 25 years in prison. The proceedings focus on whether the decision for home‑based care and alleged medical neglect contributed to Maradona’s death on 25 November 2020.