BUENOS AIRES: The Argentinian Justice Department has concluded an initial investigation into the death of Diego Maradona and may now recommend that charges be brought.

Eight people were under investigation for alleged “simple homicide with eventual intent” – a crime that carries a sentence of between eight and 25 years in prison.

The core of the case concerns possible negligence in the medical care for Maradona with insufficient support to avert his death on November 25, 2020.

The eight are neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Díaz, the doctor who coordinated home care Nancy Forlini, nurses’ coordinator Mariano Perroni, nurses Ricardo Omar Almirón and Dahiana Gisela Madrid and clinical doctor Pedro Di Spain.

An autopsy on the body of the former superstar captain of Argentina determined that he died as a result of “acute pulmonary edema secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure.” A “dilated cardiomyopathy” was also discovered in his heart.

Maradona, a world champion in Mexico in 1986, suffered from alcohol addiction and had been admitted to a clinic in La Plata on November 2, 2020, suffering from anemia and dehydration. A day later he was transferred to a hospital in the Buenos Aires town of Olivos, where he underwent surgery for a subdural hematoma by a team led by Luque.

On November 11, he was discharged from hospital and moved to a house in a private neighborhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, where he died on November 25.

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