Maradona’s doctor probed for possible manslaughter

Argentine prosecutors are investigating Diego Maradona’s doctor for possible manslaughter following the footballing legend’s death four days ago.

Around 30 police officers raided 39-year-old Dr Leopoldo Luque’s house in Buenos Aires on Sunday morning while another 20 searched his clinic as part of an investigation into possible negligence in the star’s death.

They took away computers, mobile phones and medical records, officials told reporters.

Maradona, 60, died of a heart attack at his home where he was recuperating from a brain operation.

There are suspicions that the star’s convalescence at home might not have met the strict conditions of his discharge from hospital, such as a 24-hour team of nurses specialised in substance abuse, and a stand-by ambulance equipped with a defibrillator.

In an emotional press conference on Sunday, Luque wept, saying he had done all he could to save the life of a friend, “up to the impossible”.

At one point, the doctor became angry, telling reporters: “You want to know what I am responsible for? For having loved him, for having taken care of him, for having extended his life, for having improved it to the end.”

But he cast doubt on what his role actually was. ”If you ask me, I’m a neurosurgeon and my job ended. I was done with him,” he said referring to November’s surgery and insisting Maradona’s convalescence at home was not his responsibility.

“He should have gone to a rehabilitation centre. He didn’t want to,” Luque said, calling the star “unmanageable”.

He said, “Diego was very sad, he wanted to be alone, and it’s not because he didn’t love his daughters, his family, or those around him”.

Luque denies any wrongdoing. He has not been charged.