Prosecutors on Thursday asked a San Isidro court for a 12-year prison sentence for Leopoldo Luque, the neurosurgeon who treated Diego Maradona, and for prison terms for five more members of his care team, opening closing arguments in the retrial over the footballer's death.
Patricio Ferrari and Cosme Iribarren said Luque, Nancy Forlini, who coordinated home care at the health insurer Swiss Medical, and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov committed simple homicide with eventual intent, meaning they knew their omissions could kill Maradona and carried on anyway. They asked for 10 years for Forlini and eight for Cosachov, who also faces a charge of falsifying documents. The charge carries 8 to 25 years in prison.
For psychologist Carlos Díaz, once seen as one of the main defendants, the prosecutors lowered the charge to negligent homicide and asked for five years. For nurse Ricardo Almirón and Mariano Perroni, who coordinated the nurses, they asked four years each. They dropped the case against clinical doctor Pedro Di Spagna, who saw Maradona once. Ferrari said the team's "chaotic organization" left a sick patient "in a helpless situation, abandoning him to his fate." The defendants deny the charges and say his death could not have been foreseen.
Prosecutors asked that none of the defendants be jailed if convicted, since all have appeared in court throughout. Eduardo Ramírez, lawyer for Maradona's son Diego Jr., backed their requests but sought 10 years for Cosachov and immediate arrest for Luque, Forlini and Cosachov if they are convicted.
Lawyers for other relatives speak on Tuesday, October 13, and Wednesday, October 14. The defense teams argue on October 20, 21 and 22, after which the three judges retire to deliberate. No verdict date has been set.
