Boxer Gatti's Death Suicide, Wife Off Hook: Brazil Cops

By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 30, 2009 3:59 PM CDT
Boxer Gatti's Death Suicide, Wife Off Hook: Brazil Cops
Welterweight Arturo Gatti in 2007.   (AP Photo)

Boxer Arturo Gatti's death was ruled a suicide by Brazilian police today, and a judge ordered the release of his wife, once suspected of killing the former champion. Investigator Paulo Alberes says authorities decided Gatti killed himself July 11 while at a seaside resort. When asked if police had determined the case was a suicide, Alberes said "yes," and offered no details.

A day after the 37-year-old Gatti was found dead, police said 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 Gatti may have killed himself as he was found "suspended and hanged." "I've said before it would have been impossible for her to suspend and hang a man of that size," said Rodrigues' attorney. (More boxing stories.)

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