Vanesa Morla to testify Monday in Diego Maradona death trial
Vanesa Morla, sister of Diego Maradona's former lawyer Matías Morla and partner of his ex-assistant Maximiliano Pomargo, will testify this Monday in the San Isidro trial into the football legend's 2020 death. She is the sole witness scheduled for the 25th hearing as Argentina's court probes whether home-care medical teams failed the icon.
Key Takeaways
- Vanesa Morla will be the only witness at Monday's 25th hearing in the Diego Maradona death trial at San Isidro courts.
- Eight health professionals face charges of homicide with eventual intent over Maradona's November 2020 death during home hospitalization in Tigre.
- Her brother Matías Morla has already testified, stating he was Maradona's legal representative until the day he died.
- The trial resumes Wednesday after Monday's session; hearings pause Thursday for Argentina's Independence Day holiday.
- Maradona's daughter Dalma has criticized other relatives' trial testimony as confusing and unhelpful to investigators.
Who Is Vanesa Morla and Why Does Her Testimony Matter?
According to Agencia Noticias Argentinas, Vanesa Morla is the sister of Matías Morla, who served as lawyer and former representative of Diego Maradona's image rights. She is also the partner of Maximiliano Pomargo, a former personal assistant to the football star.
Case sources told the agency she will be the only witness at the 25th hearing—marking the first time in this trial that proceedings are scheduled on a Monday. Her testimony follows her brother's appearance before the Tribunal Oral en lo Criminal N.° 7 of San Isidro.
Maradona died on 25 November 2020 at a residence in the gated San Andrés neighbourhood in Tigre, where he was receiving home hospitalization after surgery for a subdural hematoma at Clínica Olivos. The prosecution is examining whether the medical team responsible for his care acted with negligence or harmful omissions—questions that cut across celebrity health management and the risks of at-home medical care, topics readers in our Longevity & Biohacking section track closely.
What Did Matías Morla Tell the Court?
Semanario de Junín reported that Matías Morla testified for the first time in the trial, telling judges: "Fui el mejor amigo de Diego, su apoderado y trabajamos juntos. Fui su apoderado hasta su muerte."
He began his testimony at 4:50 p.m. and described professional ties to neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychologist Carlos Díaz, both among the eight defendants. Morla said he decided to bring Díaz onto Maradona's care team because the addiction specialist was not always kept informed about visit schedules.
The hearing grew tense when prosecutors played audio messages in which Morla made disparaging remarks about Maradona's daughter Gianinna. Morla apologised publicly and said he felt ashamed. Hours earlier, Maradona's nephew Jonathan Espósito—who lived with the star during the Tigre home stay—had also testified.
Why Are Maradona's Family Members Scrutinizing Trial Testimony?
While Vanesa Morla has not yet spoken, the trial has already drawn strong reactions from Maradona's relatives. Diario Mendoza Today reported that Dalma Maradona posted five Instagram videos criticising her cousin Jonathan Espósito's testimony.
Dalma described his answers as confusing and halting, saying she felt he "did not say anything" and that the overall mood in the courtroom was that he contributed little to the case. Espósito had lived with Maradona during the home hospitalization and was among the last people to see him alive before 25 November 2020.
Dalma questioned why he could not clearly explain events on the day of her father's death, given he had previously promised her nothing would happen to Diego while he was there. Her frustration underscores how closely family members are watching every witness in a case centred on end-of-life medical decisions.
What Happens Next in the Diego Maradona Death Trial?
Beyond Monday's session, the court will reconvene on Wednesday. Proceedings pause on Thursday for Argentina's Independence Day holiday, and Friday is a non-working tourism day, Agencia Noticias Argentinas noted.
Eight professionals—including Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, and Swiss Medical home-care chief Nancy Edith Forlini—face charges of homicide with eventual intent, carrying potential sentences of eight to 25 years. Nurse Dahiana Gisela Madrid faces a separate jury trial that remains delayed.
For full details on Monday's schedule, see the original Agencia Noticias Argentinas report.