Six years after Diego’s death, witnesses continue to appear at the San Isidro Court. The masseur Taffaril: “I pointed out the problems I was seeing with him but I didn’t see a resolution”
At almost six years old since the death of Diego Maradonawhich took place on November 25, 2020, new details have emerged in the ongoing trial in San Isidro. The last testimony, that of the masseur Nicolas Taffarilmerely confirmed the charges for the six defendants who ended up in the dock for the death of the Argentine champion. Taffaril said that the former champion “he didn’t get out of bed, he didn’t want to eat and he didn’t want to wash himself“. The masseur explained that he had expressed his concerns to the medical staff several times, asking for more constant monitoring. He also invited the doctors to visit him “every day”, as confirmed by an audio message played during the hearing. Taffaril underlined that he had repeatedly reported the worsening, without however obtaining adequate interventions from the medical team. “I pointed out the problems I found in him, but I saw neither concrete actions nor a rapid resolution”, he declared, visibly moved. He then added details on his condition physical: “He was swollen, his legs were swollen”. According to his story, the doctors reassured him by telling him to stay calm and that the situation would resolve itself, but this never happened the last meeting with Maradonaon November 24, 2020, the day before his death. On that occasion he proposed drinking mate together, but the champion refused. “He said to me: ‘I don’t want anything, Taffita, that’s enough‘”, reported Taffaril. When asked for explanations, Maradona simply replied: “Nothing, that’s enough.” An expression, in Spanish “ya está”, which can be interpreted both as “that’s okay” and as a more definitive “it’s over”.
The defense
The defendants, who risk 25 years, deny all charges and the defense thesis of the lawyers is that the health workers acted within their competence and that their role did not have a direct causal link with the death. The testimonial phase concluded the criminal court number seven of San Isidro will receive in the next few days the final conclusions of the medical commission which will establish whether the actions of the defendants constitute abandonment of a person or medical negligence. They will then take place the closing arguments of the prosecution, the defense and the appellants which will pave the way for the reading of the sentence.
