The trial over the death of Diego Armando Maradona has taken another key step: this Thursday, the new court was determined that will conduct the oral proceedings, following the annulment of the original trial due to the scandal surrounding Judge Julieta Makintach.
Through a manual lottery drawing, the Oral Criminal Court (TOC) No. 7 of San Isidro was selected to take charge of the case.
This court is composed of Judges Alberto Gaig and Alejandro Lago. To complete the panel, Judge Alberto Ortolani, from TOC No. 1, was appointed as substitute.
A confidential drawing with no press access
The hearing in which the new court was chosen took place in a small room at the San Isidro courthouse, with no access for the press or the public.
Although it was scheduled for noon, the session began after 12:20 p.m. Prosecutors, plaintiff attorneys, and defense attorneys participated. Judge Gaig, who was selected for the court, was also present.
Giannina Maradona was the only family member of the Ten who attended the location, although she waited outside. The court explained that access was limited due to space constraints.
TOC No. 7 was already listed among the six possible courts, of which three were incomplete. The previous trial, which had been declared null, was conducted by TOC No. 3, also incomplete and substituted by Julieta Makintach, the central judge in the scandal due to her appearance in a banned documentary.
This time, Judge María Coelho —also part of TOC No. 7— was not considered for the case. She had already been assigned to the jury trial against Gisela Madrid, the accused nurse who chose that procedure. Her prior knowledge of the case and the evidence made her incompatible to join this new court.
Next steps in the case
After the formation of the new court, the parties now have a period of 15 days to submit motions. During that period, the judges could recuse themselves if they deem it necessary, although sources close to the process stated that they do not expect recusals.
