Judge in trial of Maradona medical team steps down over role in documentary

One of the three judges presiding over the trial of the medical team of the late Argentine footballer Diego Maradona has stepped down after it emerged she had been taking part in a documentary miniseries about the high-profile case.

- Tiago Rogero

Julieta Makintach, 47, recused herself on Tuesday after prosecutors presented footage and scripts from the documentary, arguing that the filming - carried out without the knowledge of the other judges, Maradona's family, or the defendants - had compromised her impartiality.

Maradona died in November 2020, at the age of 60, while recovering from brain surgery. His seven-person medical team is on trial in San Isidro, part of the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, over the conditions of his home convalescence, described by prosecutors as grossly negligent.

After Makintach's departure, the two remaining judges decided to suspend the trial until tomorrow. It had already been suspended for a week due to allegations that the judge was involved in covert filming of the legal proceedings. Prosecutors launched a criminal investigation, which included search operations.