Arturo Gatti

Gatti death may be murder or suicide, says autopsy

Updated Sat. Jul. 18 2009 5:28 PM ET

The Associated Press

SAO PAULO -- An autopsy indicates former boxing champion Arturo Gatti of Montreal could have committed suicide, been accidentally killed or murdered, according to Jornal do Comercio newspaper Saturday.

Jornal do Comercio said it obtained a copy of the coroner's initial findings.

Police have said from the beginning they are certain Gatti's 23-year-old wife strangled the boxer with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept July 11, but the autopsy report raises some doubts.

Gatti was found dead a week ago in the apartment he was renting with wife Amanda Rodrigues in the Brazilian seaside resort of Porto de Galinhas in the northeastern state of Pernambuco.

A visitation for Gatti will be held Sunday in Montreal, with the funeral service scheduled for Monday morning at Notre Dame De La Defense.

In the state capital of Recife, Jornal do Comercio reported the autopsy findings said Gatti's body was "suspended and hanged, indicating he may have committed suicide."

The newspaper said the autopsy report also stated that "murder or accidental death" could not be ruled out. There was no explanation for "accidental death."

Paula Cysneiros, the spokeswoman for the medical examiners office that performed the autopsy, would not confirm the newspaper's report.

Police arrested Rodrigues on suspicion of murdering the former two-division champion. She maintains her innocence and is being held in a prison in Recife. She has not been charged -- according to Brazilian law, police have until this Wednesday to hand over their findings to prosecutors, who will decide if charges are to be filed.

Rodrigues told investigators she awoke and found her husband's body about 9 a.m. on July 11. She then called police.

Investigators said she was the only suspect and they are certain she killed Gatti in the apartment where they and their 10-month-old son arrived for a second honeymoon. The boy was unhurt and was in the care of Rodrigues' family.

Investigators said there was no sign of forced entry and the electronic locks on the apartment indicated only Gatti and his wife had entered.

Police said Gatti had marks on his throat, indicating he was strangled.

Rodrigues' sister, Flavia, told the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo this week that there was "no way she could have strangled a man of that size."

Rodrigues' lawyer, Celio Avelino, told The Associated Press he agreed with Flavia's conclusion.

"She is fragile, young and skinny -- how could she kill a boxing champion?" Avelino said. "When she awoke, she presumed he had committed suicide.

"But she had nothing to do with it."

Police also said there was a knife wound in the back of Gatti's head and displayed a small steak knife along with the bloodied, white purse strap -- both found near his body.

Citing the results of the autopsy, the newspaper said the wound "may have occurred when the body fell to the floor."

Police have also said they think the crime scene had been altered before they arrived -- indicating Rodrigues could have tried to make it appear as if Gatti had committed suicide, police spokeswoman Milena Saraiva told the AP this week.

Saraiva said the death may have even been pre-meditated and Rodrigues may have encouraged Gatti to drink excessively so she would be able to overpower him later.

"He was very drunk and that made it easier for her," Saraiva theorized. "He was sleeping when she did this.

"She waited for the moment when he was drunk enough for her to do it."

Avelino has insisted his client is not guilty and has said he is certain the autopsy report would indicate Gatti's death was a suicide.

Rodrigues herself, in a handwritten letter she gave to the AP on Wednesday, said she didn't commit the crime.

"I'm innocent and I know that this will be proven in a few days," she wrote in the letter.

She ended the note by addressing the couple's infant son, writing: "Junior -- soon mama will be at home!"


Thanks, Henry

 

There will be a Memorial service for Arturo Gatti on Saturday, July 25th at St. Nick’s Church located at 122 Ferry St., right off Central Ave., near Pershing Field in Jersey City starting at 11:30 AM.


Thanks, Henry

 

If you want to consider retelling stories being wrong/constituting a low "average" you've been made to look like a utter ass on here more then once yourself bud. :good

From Foster's own mouth he used to get the better of Ali in sparring when Ali himself was a LHW, he said he only got the better of Foster years later when he filled out. He was angry that he couldn't get into the olympics because of Ali being the selected LHW when he was, in his own words, a bit better against him in sparring.

 

I might as well clarify. It wasn't Russell speculating per se I objected to. I generally don't have a problem with that sort of bad taste. Rather,it was the finality with which Russell pronounced it was murder, based on - at the time-some pretty sketchy reports. I had issues with his reasoning as well.

I noticed-as have you too-that this is an irritating habit of his.
I guess I finally snapped.

 

What I took issue with was you stating your wild stories without any proof.On the Dempsey issue more than one poster aked you for corroboration,you then said" I wasnt the first one to mention it,I am only repeating what I HEARD",WELL ACTUALLY YOU WERE THE FIRST TO POST IT and you had no proof at all . The Ring magazine printed an article some issues ago which went into this subject and totally refuted all of the bollocks that had been slandering Dempsey with transcripts of legal hearings from decades ago.It would have been nice if you had acknowledged you were wrong and withdrawn your post but you didnt.
Foster only ever got as far as the PAN AM Games, do some research before retelling hearsay,again I pointed out the truth to you as did others you did not respond, or retract your post.
When I have been proven wrong on here I have said so,I have conceded my errors.I cant recall any one making me look an ass on here ,who did you have in mind?
Certainly not yourself.I remember when you first came on here I was in the middle of a debate with Mendoza about Jack Johnson . I quoted Randy Roberts book on him, Mendoza was dismissive of it and quoted Unforgiveable Blackness, you jumped vociferously to the attack, saying I should read Ken Burns book and learn to live with the facts,I think it was forum ***** you called me too, something like that.
I pointed out to you and Mendoza that Ken Burns did NOT write Unforgiveable Blackness, it was written by Geoffrey C Ward, and has an acknowledgement to Randy Roberts in it ,as has the documentary that Burns made on the subject.On that occasion you were trying to teach Granny to suck eggs.Burns cribbed heavily from "Papa Jack " ,Roberts book ,because Burns is NOT a boxing man he is a maker of various documentaries one of which was about JAZZ ,and was very good.
You are a good poster ,certainly one of the most prolific, but you have a tendency to jump in with both feet.My post to you was really because you were gloating a bit about the Gatti thing ,where for once" the shoe was on the other foot",and you were correct .As I said" one out of three."
Is there any thing in this post that is untrue or unfair do you think?
If not, perhaps you will accept it with good grace ,and move on?

 

I'm only sorry for attacking the person making the argument-rather than the argument itself.

OK ?

 

Arturo Gatti Memorial Mass Tomorrow, Thursday, July 30th

By

Main Events


Friends and fans of Arturo “Thunder” Gatti are invited to attend a memorial Mass that will be held in his honor on Thursday evening, July 30th at 7 p.m. St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic in Jersey City.

“Since it was not possible for so many of Arturo’s friends and fans in the US to attend his funeral this past weekend in Montreal, we think that it is only right to give them the opportunity to celebrate Arturo’s life and pay their respects next Thursday at St. John’s,” said Gatti’s boxing manager and mentor, Pat Lynch.

“Arturo was much more to me than a business associate or even a friend,” said Lynch, who handled Gatti throughout his 17-year professional boxing career. “I am humbled and honored by the fact that he considered me to be his second father. I don’t know if I will ever get over losing him.”

“Arturo Gatti was a living legend whose passion in the ring was exceeded only by his great loyalty to the people he truly loved and cared for,” Kathy Duva of Gatti’s longtime promoter, Main Events, said. “Words are inadequate to describe the unspeakable sadness of losing him this way. On July 30th his friends and fans from the area will have the chance to come together to grieve and remember Arturo not only as a boxing icon, but as a great friend.”

Nicknamed, “The Human Highlight Film,” Gatti thrilled fans throughout his storied boxing career with his heart-stopping all-action style. A two-time world champion in two weight divisions, the Jersey City resident was beloved by his vocal legion of fans. Gatti set attendance records at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall during a run of nine straight sell-outs between 2002 and 2007. Four of his bouts were chosen to be honored as “Fight of the Year” by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Gatti fought 20 times on HBO, including a legendary trilogy of fights with Mickey Ward, which was voted the second greatest boxing trilogy of all time (behind Ali-Frasier) by fans in an ESPN sports poll. Even though no title was at stake in any of the three, ten-round bouts, HBO color analyst and Hall of Fame trainer Emmanuel Steward described round-nine of Gatti’s first encounter with Ward as “the round of the century.” Joined together for eternity by virtue of their thrilling 30 rounds in the ring, Gatti and Ward later became the best of friends, culminating in Ward’s appearance as Gatti’s trainer for his last professional bout in 2007.

Gatti, 37, was found dead in a vacation villa in Brazil on Saturday, July 11th. Brazilian authorities have charged his wife, Amanda, with his murder.

St. John the Baptist R.C. Church is located at 3026 Kennedy Blvd., a short walk up Kennedy Blvd. from the Path Station in Journal Square.

For more information contact:

Ellen Haley, Main Events,

This content is protected

Thanks, Henry Hascup

 

Brazil police rule Gatti’s death suicide

By BRADLEY BROOKS, Associated Press Writer

A Brazilian police investigation has determined that the death of boxer Arturo Gatti was a suicide and a court has ordered the release of his wife, once suspected of killing him, officials said Thursday, July 30, 2009.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)—A Brazilian police investigation has determined that the death of boxer Arturo Gatti was a suicide and a court has ordered the release of his wife, once suspected of killing him, officials said Thursday.

Lead investigator Paulo Alberes told The Associated Press authorities found that Gatti killed himself on July 11 in a seaside resort in northeastern Brazil.

When asked if police had determined the case was a suicide, Alberes said “yes.” He offered no other details, but said he would hold a news conference later in the day.

A day after Gatti was found dead, police said that his 23-year-old Brazilian wife, Amanda Rodrigues, had strangled him with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.

But police began to back off the accusation about a week later after a coroner’s report said that Gatti may have killed himself as he was found hanged and suspended. Rodrigues’ lawyer said at the time that proved his client’s innocence because she could not have physically lifted Gatti.

A spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state court in the city of Recife confirmed that judge Ildete Verissimo de Lima ordered the release of Rodrigues.

The judge wrote in the ruling that police informed the court that “the detention of the suspect was no longer needed” as the investigation “excludes the possibility of murder.”

But police began to back off the accusation about a week later after a coroner’s report said that Gatti may have killed himself as he was found hanged and suspended. Rodrigues’ lawyer said at the time that proved his client’s innocence because she could not have physically lifted Gatti.

A spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state court in the city of Recife confirmed that judge Ildete Verissimo de Lima ordered the release of Rodrigues.

The judge wrote in the ruling that police informed the court that “the detention of the suspect was no longer needed” as the investigation “excludes the possibility of murder.”

“The victim … committed suicide by hanging,” Lima’s ruling read, referring to the police investigation findings.

Rodrigues will walk out of jail Thursday afternoon, said her lawyer, Celio Avelino.

Gatti was found dead in the apartment he was renting with Rodrigues in the resort town of Porto de Galinhas.

The pair, who had a tumultuous marriage, had arrived there a few days before Gatti’s death for a second honeymoon. The couple brought their 10-month-old son, who was unhurt and is in the care of Rodrigues’ family in Brazil.

The 37-year-old Gatti, who captured two world titles in his 16-year pro career, retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9.

Gatti’s family and friends in his adopted hometown of Montreal have denied the accusation the boxer could have killed himself.

“Nobody believes whatsoever that there’s even a 1 percent chance of a suicide. He lived life to the fullest,” Ivano Scarpa, a close Gatti family friend, said at the boxer’s July 20 funeral service in Canada.

But Rodrigues, in a July 15 letter that she handed over to the AP from prison, said: “I’m innocent and I know that this will be proven in a few days.”

Associated Press Writer Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.


Thanks, Henry

 

JERSEY CITY, N.J.(AP)—The brother of boxer Arturo Gatti says the family may seek to exhume his body and have an autopsy conducted in Canada.

Joseph Gatti of Wyckoff, N.J. said Thursday that no one in the family believes the 37-year-old fighter committed suicide. They still suspect he was strangled by his Brazilian wife, Amanda Rodrigues.

Brazilian police ruled the death a suicide Thursday and a judge ordered Rodrigues’ release from jail just hours before a memorial Mass for Gatti in northern New Jersey.

Joseph Gatti, a former boxing champion like his brother, says the family is very disappointed in the Brazilian law enforcement community.

The memorial Mass was be held at St. John the Baptist, a Roman Catholic Church in Jersey City, which I just came back from

Thanks, Henry

 

This appears to be a very sad and strange case I am sure we haven't headr the last of it.

 

Here are a lot more details posted today on espn.com

Police: Gatti hung himself from stairs
Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Arturo Gatti hanged himself with a handbag strap from a staircase column more than seven feet off the ground, Brazilian police said Friday as they released new details about the boxer's death.

Milena Saraiva, a police spokeswoman in the northeastern city of Recife, provided more information about Gatti's suicide a day after authorities reversed their stance on the case. Until Thursday, they insisted it was a homicide and the boxer's wife was tagged as the primary suspect.

"This case has been resolved. While the evidence at the scene first led us to think Gatti was murdered, the autopsy results and a detailed crime scene analysis simply pointed to a different outcome," Saraiva said.

On Thursday, a judge ordered the release of Gatti's wife, 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues, who had been held since July 12 in Recife. She and Gatti arrived with their 10-month-old son a few days before in the resort town of Porto de Galinhas, where they rented a two-level apartment.

Police ultimately concluded that Gatti hanged himself in the apartment early on July 11 from a wooden staircase column that was 7.3 feet off the ground. He stood on a stool and kicked it out from underneath him, police said. The autopsy report said Gatti was suspended for about three hours before his body fell to the floor.

Rodrigues said she was sleeping with the pair's son in an upstairs bedroom. She told police she went downstairs about 6 a.m. to get milk for the boy and saw Gatti's body on the floor, but assumed he was drunkenly sleeping. It was not until she went back downstairs at 9 a.m. that she discovered Gatti was dead and called police. Saraiva said no suicide note was found.

"The first investigators to arrive at the scene only saw his body on the floor and the bloodied strap near his body," Saraiva said. "They assumed his wife strangled him."

Saraiva said 17 witnesses told police that the pair got into a loud fight on a street near the beach in Porto de Galinhas the night before Gatti died. Saraiva said Gatti had seven cans of beer, along with two bottles of wine, over the course of dinner and partying at a bar.

Witnesses told police Gatti at one point picked up Rodrigues, who weighs about 100 pounds, by her chin with his right hand and tossed her to the ground.

Saraiva said at that point a security guard for a local hotel intervened, only to be punched in the face by Gatti. A small crowd that had gathered around the scene grew angry, with some throwing stones and even a bicycle at the boxer, the police spokeswoman said.

One stone hit Gatti in the back of the head, causing a wound that police originally said was caused by a small steak knife that was found near his body -- and which police showed off to reporters the day after Gatti's death.

The fracas eventually broke up, and Gatti and Rodrigues returned to the apartment in separate taxis.

In an telephone interview with The Associated Press as she walked out of jail Thursday, Rodrigues said Gatti may have killed himself because he feared she would leave him after their fight, one of many during a rocky two-year marriage.

"I believe that when we got home and he saw that he hurt me, he thought I would leave him, that I would tell him to just let me go, that I would separate from him," she said. "He did that in a moment of weakness. He was drunk, maybe he didn't know what he was doing, maybe he thought I would leave him the next day."

According to records at the Court of Quebec's criminal and penal division, Gatti was charged on April 16 for violating a restraining order that had been filed against him. Records didn't indicate who filed the restraining order, but Gatti's mother, Ida, confirmed it was Rodrigues who had taken one out against him.

Gatti, a Canadian who captured two world titles in his 16-year pro career, retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9.

Many of his friends and family have expressed disbelief at the suicide ruling, and Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement Friday that government officials will seek more information from Brazilian authorities on the Gatti investigation and its findings.

Thanks, Henry

 

MONTREAL (AP) - Boxer Arturo Gatti's body was exhumed Friday to allow the Quebec coroner's office to perform a new autopsy at his family's request.

The development comes a day after Brazilian police classified Gatti's death as a suicide.

Until Thursday, police in the northeastern Brazil city of Recife considered it a homicide, with his wife as the prime suspect. Now, police say Gatti hanged himself with a handbag strap from a staircase column more than seven feet off the ground.

Gilles Ethier, deputy chief coroner of the western part of the Province of Quebec, said Gatti's family had retained an American pathologist, who will assist with the autopsy Saturday morning at the Montreal morgue.

"Clearly, it's necessary for us to pursue the investigation," Ethier said. "Of course, it's a little more complex for the pathologist because the body has been embalmed."

Gatti's Montreal funeral was July 20.

Many of his friends and family have expressed disbelief at the suicide ruling, and Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement Friday that government officials will seek more information from Brazilian authorities on the Gatti investigation and its findings.

Ellen Haley, a spokeswoman for Main Events, the longtime promoter of Gatti's bouts, said in a statement "we do not believe that he took his own life."

She said members of the Gatti family, along with his boxing manager Pat Lynch, will carry out their own investigation. "We believe that once the results of that investigation are revealed, the truth will come to light and justice will be done," Haley said.

Gatti's wife, 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues, was released Thursday after being held since July 12 in Recife. She and Gatti arrived with their 10-month-old son a few days before in the resort town of Porto de Galinhas, where they rented a two-level apartment.

Milena Saraiva, a Recife police spokeswoman, provided more information Friday about Gatti's death.

Police ultimately concluded he hanged himself in the apartment early on July 11 from a wooden staircase column that was 7.3 feet off the ground. He stood on a stool and kicked it out from underneath him, police said. The autopsy report said Gatti was suspended for about three hours before his body fell to the floor.

Rodrigues said she was sleeping with the couple's son in an upstairs bedroom. She told police she went downstairs about 6 a.m. to get milk for the boy, saw Gatti's body on the floor and assumed he was drunkenly sleeping. It was not until she went back downstairs at 9 a.m. that she discovered Gatti was dead and called police. Saraiva said no suicide note was found.

"The first investigators to arrive at the scene only saw his body on the floor and the bloodied strap near his body," Saraiva said. "They assumed his wife strangled him."

Saraiva said 17 witnesses told police the couple got into a loud fight on a street near the beach in Porto de Galinhas the night before Gatti died. Saraiva said Gatti had seven cans of beer, along with two bottles of wine, over the course of dinner and partying at a bar.

Thanks, Henry

 

MONTREAL (AP)—A second autopsy performed at the request of former boxer Arturo Gatti’s family has not ruled out homicide in his death.

Michael Baden, the former chief pathologist for the New York State Police and host of the HBO cable TV show “Autopsy,” said Saturday that an autopsy performed by Quebec coroners found that an investigation by Brazilian authorities was incomplete.

The second autopsy came two days after Brazilian police classified Gatti’s death a suicide.

“There were definite injuries that had not been seen by the Brazilian authorities, but one needs a lot of additional information, including a toxicology which isn’t available yet, to come to a conclusion as to whether it’s homicide or suicide,” Baden said.

Until Thursday, police in the northeastern Brazilian city of Recife considered Gatti’s death a homicide and held his wife Amanda Rodrigues as the prime suspect. Now, police say Gatti hanged himself with a handbag strap from a staircase column more than seven feet off the ground.

Gatti’s family has rejected the conclusion that he committed suicide at an upscale resort in Brazil on July 11.

Following the autopsy, Baden said it was apparent that the Brazilian investigation was incomplete. Toxicology tests will take place in Montreal in the coming weeks.

“The family (and pathologist’s office) are waiting for results from the Brazilian police as to the scene of death and circumstances in Brazil before a final conclusion can be made,” Baden said. “But the pathologists here (in Quebec) did a super job at finding things, including injuries, that were missed in Brazil.”

Gatti, a Canadian who captured two world titles in his 16-year pro career, retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9.

Many of his friends and family have expressed disbelief at the suicide ruling, and Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement Friday that government officials will seek more information from Brazilian authorities.

Ellen Haley, a spokeswoman for Gatti’s longtime promoter Main Events, said in a statement that “we do not believe that he took his own life.” She said members of the Gatti family, along with his former manager Pat Lynch, will carry out their own investigation.

“We believe that once the results of that investigation are revealed, the truth will come to light and justice will be done,” the statement said.

Earlier this week, friends close to the Gatti family brought a computer to the Montreal police, claiming it had evidence of interest to his death. Montreal police have not searched the contents of the computer, and are making arrangements to have it sent to Brazilian authorities, Montreal police Constable Ian Lacoursiere said.

Gatti’s 23-year-old wife was released earlier this week after being held since July 12 in Recife. She and Gatti arrived with their 10-month-old son a few days before in the resort town of Porto de Galinhas, where they rented a two-level apartment.

“I am absolutely sure that the second autopsy will reconfirm that he committed suicide,” Rodrigues’s attorney, Celio Avelino, said by telephone.

Repeated calls to Rodrigues went unanswered.

Milena Saraiva, a Recife police spokeswoman, provided more information Friday about Gatti’s death.

Police concluded that he hanged himself in the apartment early on July 11 from a wooden staircase column that was about 7 feet off the ground. He stood on a stool and kicked it out from under him, police said. The autopsy report said Gatti was suspended for about three hours before his body fell to the floor.

Thanks, Henry