Buenos Aires, Argentina – The ongoing trial surrounding the 2020 death of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona witnessed a stunning development yesterday as a key witness was arrested inside the courtroom on charges of perjury. Julio Coria, Maradona's former security guard, was taken into custody during proceedings in San Isidro, north of Buenos Aires, where seven medical professionals stand accused of culpable homicide in connection with the legendary player's passing.   

Coria, who was present at the private residence in Tigre where Maradona died at age 60, had testified about performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before paramedics arrived. However, his testimony quickly came under scrutiny from the prosecution, who repeatedly pointed out inconsistencies and omissions in his statements.   

The tension culminated when prosecutors presented evidence contradicting Coria's claims, most notably his denial of communication with Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's primary physician and one of the defendants. The prosecution produced numerous chat logs between the two, to which Coria offered only that he "did not remember."

Fernando Burlando, representing Maradona's daughters Dalma and Giannina, further amplified the allegations of perjury by revealing a post-mortem conversation between Luque and Coria where they reportedly agreed to share an "asado," a traditional Argentine barbecue. The prosecution vehemently argued that Coria was "clearly lying" and demanded his immediate arrest.   

Adding to the discrepancies, Coria testified that psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, another defendant, had attempted CPR on Maradona, a detail absent from his prior statements to investigators.

Following the prosecution's persistent challenges, the panel of three judges presiding over the trial agreed that there were valid grounds to suspect perjury and ordered Coria's immediate arrest. He was subsequently led from the courtroom in handcuffs and now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years if convicted of the offense.

The day's proceedings also included testimony from Santiago Gióllero, the owner of the property where Maradona spent his final days. Gióllero stated that he signed the rental agreement just 15 days before Maradona's death, on November 10, and was informed that the football star would be staying there for several months to recuperate from surgery. While Maradona's staff allegedly told Gióllero that an ambulance would be stationed nearby, he testified that he did not observe one during his "two or three" visits to the property between the rental agreement and Maradona's death.

The trial, which commenced on March 11 and is expected to extend until at least July, is set to hear from approximately 120 witnesses. The seven accused medical professionals, including doctors and a psychologist, maintain their innocence and face potential prison terms ranging from 8 to 25 years if found guilty of culpable homicide. They were responsible for Maradona's care in the lead-up to his death on November 25, 2020, from acute pulmonary edema while recovering from neurosurgery. A separate trial is expected for a nurse also involved in Maradona's care. The dramatic arrest of a key witness underscores the intense scrutiny and emotional weight surrounding the legal proceedings seeking to determine responsibility for the passing of one of football's greatest ever players.

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