Maradona death: Verdict in trial to be delivered on December 22

The verdict in the trial over the 2020 death of Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona will be delivered on December 22, the court announced this week, according to Al Jazeera.

The trial of seven healthcare professionals accused of negligence in the star's death concluded after hearing testimony from more than 70 witnesses, with proceedings having begun in April, Al Jazeera reported, citing AFP.

Prosecutors have requested prison sentences ranging from four to 12 years for six of the seven defendants, with the heaviest sentence sought against the main defendant, Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's primary doctor, who has declared his innocence.

Maradona died at the age of 60 in November 2020 from heart failure coupled with pulmonary oedema. The larger-than-life star, who had a history of substance abuse, was found dead in his bed at a residence in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, which had been rented for his convalescence following minor brain surgery.

The case has centred on whether the decision to let Maradona recover in a private home was appropriate. Prosecutors pointed to what they described as the near-total absence of medical equipment at the residence, including a hospital bed and defibrillator, which they called a dereliction of duty.

'I hope my father receives the justice he deserves ... like anyone else,' Maradona's daughter Dalma told the court, her voice breaking, according to the report. Luque told the court: 'I am innocent. I cared deeply for him, I loved him, he was my idol and my friend.'