Expert witnesses testifying in the trial over Argentine football superstar Diego Maradona’s death said the former footballer spent his last 12 hours in agony.

Carlos Cassinelli, director of forensic medicine at the Buenos Aires Province police science department, said that analysis of the body showed that he was suffering from acute pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure. The autopsy also revealed that several organs, including the lungs, brain, and kidneys, were enlarged and filled with water. Additionally, they also found edemas in his brain mass.

Cassinelli was adamant that the amount of water found in his body — over four liters — could not have formed quickly. 

“This develops slowly and over time,” he said. “It could well have started from the day he left surgery to the day he died. It doesn’t show up in one, two, or even three days. It’s something that progresses for at least ten days.”

He also revealed Maradona’s heart weighed double that of an average person and was covered in body fat. There were also red, cruoric clots in it. According to the coroner, these “only appear in the case of a slow death and long agony.”

“It’s evident that Maradona’s death was preceded by a long agony of up to 12 hours,” he said. He added that the evidence suggested the former footballer hadn’t been checked on since midnight of the day he died.

Maradona’s former lawyer to be questioned in parallel case

While the case on Maradona’s death moves forward, a parallel investigation regarding the use, control, and exploitation of the trademarks related to his figure has kicked into gear. 

Judge María Rita Acosta summoned his former lawyer, Matías Morla, for questioning, part of the complaint filed by two of the former footballer’s daughters, Dalma and Giannina.

The judge also summoned two of the former star’s sisters, Rita and Claudia Maradona; Morla’s brother-in-law, Maximiliano Pomargo; and others related to the case.

They stand accused of fraud after Maradona signed a contract that relinquished control of his trademark to Morla through the company Sattvica S.A. The former star’s five heirs claim Maradona was incapacitated to sign the contract, and therefore it was done to their detriment.

With information from Ámbito.