A personal bodyguard told the trial over Diego Armando Maradona’s death that the football legend’s private doctor, Leopoldo Luque, failed to visit him despite repeated warnings about his deteriorating health.
Martin Anibal Dominguez gave evidence on Tuesday, describing Maradona’s condition during the final days of his life while he was receiving care at a house on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
“He was supposed to come; Diego had recently undergone surgery,” Dominguez said. “He was supposed to come, but he did not. We were unable to deal with Diego; he was in a bad mood and treated everyone badly.”
Dominguez was part of Maradona’s personal security team and was present at the property where the former Argentina captain died on 25 November 2020.
The witness said he noticed clear physical changes in Maradona, adding: “Every time I saw him, his face was swollen.”
He also told the court: “They constantly asked me about Diego’s condition, and I replied that he was suffering from fluid retention.”
During Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors presented messages in which Dominguez warned Luque about Maradona’s swelling and urged the doctor to visit him at home.
Asked by the prosecutor why he had sent those messages, Dominguez replied: “Diego told the nurse that he was waiting for his private doctor.”
He said Maradona’s general condition had appeared poor and that the player had become increasingly withdrawn.
“Diego was not well, he did not want to shower, he did not leave his room and he did not want to eat,” Dominguez said.
He added: “Monona, the cook, also told me that he was not going to the bathroom. That was why they installed a bathroom in his room.”
According to evidence presented at the trial, Luque visited Maradona four times during the 14 days the former player spent at the house: on 17, 18, 20 and 22 November.
The doctor reportedly told other people close to Maradona, who had informed him about the swelling, that it was caused by spending a long period in bed and would eventually disappear.
Maradona died from “acute pulmonary oedema caused by an exacerbation of chronic heart failure”, according to the autopsy report.
Forensic experts who examined his body have also testified during the proceedings. They said they found three litres of fluid in Maradona’s abdomen and observed signs of “generalised oedema”, meaning extensive fluid accumulation throughout the body.
The experts told the court that the condition had developed over several days.
Maradona, regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, died aged 60 shortly after undergoing surgery for a brain blood clot. The trial is examining the medical and care arrangements surrounding his death while he was recovering at home.
Alongside Luque, those facing trial are psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychologist Carlos Diaz, Nancy Forlini, the home-care co-ordinator at Swiss Medical, doctor Pedro Di Spagna, nursing co-ordinator Mariano Perroni and nurse Ricardo Almiron.
All are accused of manslaughter in connection with Maradona’s death.
