Maradona’s Ex-Bodyguard Arrested for Alleged False Testimony

A former bodyguard of Diego Maradona, Julio César Coria, was arrested on Tuesday, March 25, for allegedly lying and withholding information during his testimony in the ongoing trial of seven healthcare professionals charged with negligence in the soccer legend’s death.

The dramatic turn unfolded at a criminal court in San Isidro, a Buenos Aires suburb, where the case has gripped Argentina since its start on March 11.

Coria, who was present when Maradona suffered a fatal heart attack on November 25, 2020, at a home outside Buenos Aires, faced scrutiny after testifying that he saw nurse Gisela Madrid and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov—both defendants—performing CPR, with Cosachov attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

However, prosecutor Patricio Ferrari accused Coria of contradictions, pointing to evidence of extensive communication with neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, another defendant. “There are countless chats between Luque and Coria, showing a cordial, almost friendly relationship, yet he denied any conversation,” Ferrari stated, prompting the court to order Coria’s arrest for false testimony. He remained in custody Tuesday afternoon.

The seven accused, including Luque—Maradona’s physician who operated on a brain blood clot weeks before his death—face charges of “homicide with possible intent,” risking 8 to 25 years in prison. Prosecutors allege they neglected Maradona during a “prolonged, agonizing period.”

Adding weight to the case, Maradona’s daughter Jana, 28, testified that Luque and Coria pushed for “home hospitalization” despite clinic advice to keep him admitted.

The trial, expected to run until July with nearly 120 witnesses, continues to unravel the circumstances of Maradona’s death at 60, a loss that devastated Argentina. Coria’s arrest intensifies the spotlight on the medical team’s actions, as the nation seeks justice for its revered icon.