Authorities rule boxing champ Arturo Gatti's death a suicide, wife Amanda Rodrigues released

[JonLP24]

Boxing star Arturo Gatti wasn't murdered - he killed himself in a Brazil seaside resort three weeks ago, authorities said Thursday.

The rough-and-tumble fighter's wife was released from jail after the ruling that Gatti, 37, committed suicide, the Associated Press reported.

Former exotic dancer Amanda Rodrigues, who discovered the body on July 11, was arrested after police theorized she had strangled the former world champion with her purse strap.

Police suggested Gatti was too drunk to defend himself when he was killed.

But Brazilian state court Judge Ildete Verissimo de Lima in the city of Recife ordered Rodrigues' immediate release after the new finding.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/07/30/2009-07-30_boxing_arturo_gatti_wasnt_murdered.html

[H2O Man]

1. That's terrible.

But not unexpected.

[joeybee12]

2. I thougth, Why is soemthing about a NY crime family in the sports forum?

Obviously I don't follow boxing...that said, this is sad, always sad when someone takes their own life.

[H2O Man]

3. I don't think

that many people, other than the judge who released the wife, believes that Gatti killed himself. He had been stabbed in the back of the head, then strangled with her purse strap. His closest friends said that he was going to tell her that he was seeking a divorce; witnesses said they had been fighting earlier that night.

[H2O Man]

4. Note:

There are reports that a second autopsy is being done in Canafa.