A shocking image of late football giant Diego Maradona on his deathbed was shown to a court in San Isidro on Tuesday as the trial into Argentina’s most famous son got underway.
During the first hearing of the trial, which sees a number of healthcare professionals in the dock charged with criminal neglect in relation of Maradona’s death, Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari held up the photograph before the judges to illustrate his allegations.
"That's how he died," Ferrari told the court, holding up an image of Maradona shortly after his death, which shows the late footballer lying on his back in bed with a hugely swollen abdomen.
He said the image was evidence of extreme negligence in the ex-footballer's care.
It shows evidence of a notable physical deterioration of the footballer’s body, which reinforces the prosecution's hypothesis about the lack of adequate medical care.
Production of the image prompted an immediate commotion in court. Members of Maradona’s family were sitting watching on and many immediately burst into tears, moved by the sight of the image.
Meanwhile, the defendants remained silent, their expressions tense in the face of the accusation.
“Whoever comes to tell you, the judges, that they didn't perceive what was happening to Diego, they are lying to your faces,” said Ferrari.
“Anyone who sees him lying in bed like that for several days, is lying to you if they don't tell you that they were involved in a homicide,” he said.
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, aged 60, while recovering at home from brain surgery for a blood clot, after decades battling cocaine and alcohol addictions.
The defendants risk prison terms between eight and 25 years if convicted on the charge of "homicide with possible intent" – allegedly for pursuing a course of action despite knowing it could lead to the former footballer's death.
– TIMES/AFP/NA
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