An Argentine court has declared a mistrial in the homicide case against the medical team of the late football legend Diego Maradona.

Thursday's mistrial ruling came after one of the court's judges recused herself over ethical conflicts posed by the fact that she had appeared in a television documentary about the case.

Prosecutors argued that the situation created a conflict that tainted the trial.

Judge Maximiliano Savarino said the conduct of the judge, Julieta Makintach, had "caused prejudice" to the proceedings.

A new trial will be held with a different panel of judges, but Thursday's statements did not specify when that would happen.

Death of a national hero

Maradona's heart attack and death at age 60 while recovering from brain surgery in November 2020 shocked Argentina.

The trial against his seven-member medical team — for what prosecutors said was their grossly negligent care of the national hero — began on March 11. 

Members of Maradona's medical team face between eight and 25 years in prison, should they be found guilty of homicide with possible intent.

But the trial unraveled when Makintach declared that she had "no choice" but to recuse herself from the case after prosecutors showed a teaser-trailer for the documentary, "Divine Justice," in the courtroom on Tuesday. 

Not only did Makintach appear in the trailer for the film — which traces the aftermath of Maradona's death and the start of the trail — she clearly featured as one of its main protagonists.

Edited by: Zac Crellin