'They killed Diego' - Nurse's lawyer claims doctors' negligence was responsible for Maradona's death

Argentina legend died in November weeks after brain surgery

A fan cries as she pays homage to Maradona at Argentinos Juniors' Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in La Paternal, Buenos Aires, in November. AFP

Football fans surround the hearse carrying the coffin of Diego Maradona as it arrives at a funeral parlour in Buenos Aires. AP

A father and daughter mourn as they gather by the Buenos Aires Obelisk to pay homage to Maradona. AFP

People gather to mourn the death of football legend Diego Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Reuters

A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, outside the Alberto J. Armando "La Bombonera" stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Reuters

A fan mourns the death of Diego Maradona, at the Marcelo Bielsa stadium, in Rosario, Argentina, Reuters

Fans hold a vigil for Maradona outside the stadium of Argentinos Juniors, where he started as a professional footballer, in Buenos Aires. AP

A boy touches a mural of Maradona outside the Argentinos Juniors stadium. AP

Ffans carry a banner of Maradona in downtown Buenos Aires. AP

A man wearing a shirt with the face of Maradona cries outside the stadium of the Argentinos Juniors. AP

A sign reaing "Thank You Diego' hangs at the gate of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. AP

Fans pay tribute to Maradona after the news of his death was announced in Buenos Aires. Getty

Fans cry for Maradona after the news of his death, Getty

Supporters gather at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando. EPA

Police guard at the door of the judicial morgue, in the town of San Fernando, Buenos Aires province. EPA

A fan with a Maradona face mask and motorcycle helmet at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires. Getty

People gather to mourn the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona outside San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy. Reuters

People gather to mourn the death of soccer legend Maradona, outside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Buenos Aires. Reuters

Fans gather at Obelisk of Buenos Aires to mourn and pay tribute to Maradona. Getty

The back window of a car displays 'So long, God'. Getty

Fans gather to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in the corner of Segurola and Habana in Buenos Aires. Getty

A fan lights a candle to pay tribute to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty

Tributes to Maradona at the entrance of his former house in Buenos Aires. Getty

Independiente's coach Lucas Pusineri wears a black armband in memory of Maradona before a Copa Sudamericana match against Uruguay's Fenix in Montevideo, Uruguay. AP

The Beira-Rio stadium with the colours of Argentina in tribute to Maradona in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Reuters

A fan holds a jersey reading 'Today football died' as fans gather to pay tribute to Diego Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty

Fireworks are let off and a screen displays the No 10 as a tribute to Maradona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Getty

A lawyer for a nurse under investigation in the death of Argentina legend Diego Maradona claimed that doctors killed him through negligence.

"They killed Diego," said attorney Rodolfo Baque after his client, nurse Dahiana Gisela Madrid, was questioned by prosecutors.

Maradona died of a heart attack last November at the age of 60, weeks after undergoing brain surgery for a blood clot.

Madrid, 36, is one of seven people under investigation for manslaughter after a board of experts looking into Maradona's death found he had received inadequate care and was abandoned to his fate for a "prolonged, agonising period."

Baque insisted it was the doctors treating Maradona while he recovered from the brain operation, not his client, who were to blame for the his death.

He said Maradona was being treated for heart trouble but at the same time was on psychiatric medication that sped up his heart rate.

Also, Maradona fell while in the hospital, and when Madrid asked to have a CAT scan done on him, an aide to Maradona refused, arguing that if the press found out it would look bad, Baque said.

"In the end, there were many warning signs that Maradona was going to die, give or take a day. And none of the doctors did anything to prevent it," Baque said during a break in the interrogation of Madrid, which went on for more than eight hours.

Madrid was Maradona's daytime nurse and one of the last people to see him alive.

An investigation was opened following a complaint filed by two of Maradona's five children against neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, whom they blame for their father's deteriorating condition after the brain operation.

A panel of 20 medical experts convened by Argentina's public prosecutor said last month that Maradona's treatment was rife with "deficiencies and irregularities" and the medical team had left his survival "to fate."

If found guilty, the seven, who are barred from leaving the country, could face between eight and 25 years in prison.

Madrid was one of the people to have found Maradona with no signs of life and had tried to revive him, she said in a previous witness statement.

On Monday, Maradona's night-time nurse Ricardo Almiron, 37, was the first of the seven to be questioned by prosecutors.

Other medical staff involved in caring for Maradona will be questioned by prosecutors over the next two weeks.

A judge will decide whether the matter should go to trial in a process expected to last months, or even years.

Maradona had battled cocaine and alcohol addiction.

The former Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli star was suffering from liver, kidney and cardiovascular disorders when he died.

Maradona is an idol to millions of Argentines after he inspired the South American country to only their second World Cup triumph in 1986.

His death shocked fans around the world, and tens of thousands queued to file past his coffin, draped in the Argentine flag, at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires amid three days of national mourning.