Diego Maradona died in November 2020 at age 60 from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema while recovering at home after surgery for a brain clot [1].
His daughter, Gianinna Maradona, 36, said there was a plan involving his entourage and medical staff, but it "went out of control" before he died. "There was definitely a plan and someone was in charge of it, but things got out of their control," she said this week during an interview on the sidelines of a trial in San Isidro, Argentina [1].
Seven medical workers face trial accused of gross negligence leading to Maradona’s death. They deny responsibility and say Maradona died of natural causes [1]. Prosecutors say the accused could face prison terms of 8 to 25 years.
Gianinna blamed Maradona’s former lawyer and representative, Matias Morla, and his former assistant Maximiliano Pomargo for complicating care. Though Morla and Pomargo are not charged in the negligence case, they are due to stand trial separately for alleged fraudulent management of Maradona’s brand rights [1].
Gianinna said some defendants convinced the family in November 2020 that Maradona should recover at home instead of being admitted to a psychiatric clinic. "It didn’t suit them for my father to be hospitalised in psychiatry, because a whole lot of things would have collapsed for Morla," she told the court [1].
She accused Morla of having power of attorney over the use of Maradona’s name and controlling many aspects of his life. "He was the one who had the signature, who could sign as if he were my dad," Gianinna said. "He had the power of having Maradona (under his control) and did whatever he wanted with that power" [1].
Last month, Gianinna testified at the trial and denounced a "total manipulation" around her father’s care [1]. This week, she said she still struggles to comprehend the overall plan but questioned whether Morla “wanted to have my father’s life in his hands” [1].
The trial of the seven medical workers accused of negligence continues. Meanwhile, the separate case against Morla and Pomargo for alleged fraud is scheduled to proceed.
