In dramatic court testimony that painted a grim picture of Diego Maradona’s final hours, forensic expert Major Commissioner Mauricio Cassinelli revealed shocking details about the football legend’s physical condition at death.
The former director of Legal Medicine for Argentina’s Scientific Police presented autopsy findings showing Maradona’s heart weighed a staggering 502 grams – more than double the normal 250-300 gram range for an adult male.
Cassinelli described finding severe “generalized edema from head to toe” with 4.5 liters of excess water accumulated in Maradona’s body, including 3 liters concentrated in the abdominal cavity alone. The expert emphasized that “this fluid accumulation doesn’t happen in one day or even four – it progresses over a minimum of ten days.” The autopsy confirmed Maradona suffered from “dilated cardiomyopathy,” a serious condition causing dangerous enlargement of the heart muscle.
🔴 ¿CÓMO FUE LA MUERTE DE DIEGO?
El Dr. Claudio Santa María visitó los estudios de IP Noticias y explicó los detalles de la autopsia de Maradona.
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— IP NOTICIAS (@_IPNoticias) March 27, 2025The courtroom was shown graphic medical images revealing multiple organ failures. Maradona’s lungs appeared filled with fatty tissue, while his kidneys displayed clear signs of nephroangiosclerosis, a form of kidney disease. The liver showed damage consistent with advanced cirrhosis. Perhaps most disturbingly, cruoric clots found in the body provided biological evidence of what may have been up to twelve hours of suffering before death.
These findings stand in stark contrast to a defence-commissioned autopsy by Pablo Ferrari, which controversially claimed Maradona’s agony lasted merely “minutes to hours.” Prosecutors have strongly questioned Ferrari’s methodology, noting that he completed his review in 72 hours without involving a full forensic team.
Seven medical professionals currently face charges, including homicide with eventual intent. The accused include neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque (Maradona’s physician), psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, and nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni. In a significant ruling, the court rejected a motion to remove Maradona’s sisters from the case regarding trademark disputes, keeping the focus squarely on allegations of medical negligence.
The official autopsy concluded Maradona died from “acute pulmonary edema secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure” – a condition where fluid rapidly fills the lungs due to the heart’s inability to function properly. These revelations have reignited painful questions about whether proper medical intervention could have prevented the tragic death of Argentina’s most beloved football icon, as the world continues to grapple with the devastating final chapter of Maradona’s extraordinary life.
