Amanda Rodrigues Gatti is being held by police in Brazil over the death of her husband, the champion boxer, Arturo Gatti. There is concern about inconsistencies in her story of how he died and Amanda Rodrigues is now a suspect in Gatti's death.
Arturo Gatti was originally from Italy and brought up in Canada. He was training to represent Canada in the Olympic Games when he turned pro at the age of 19. He announced his retirement in 2007 and had a career record of 40 wins and 9 losses, 31 wins by knockout.
On July 11 2009 Gatti was found dead in his hotel in Brazil, the Dorisol on Porto de Galinhas beach. He had not been stabbed or shot and there was blood around his neck and the back of his head.
Amanda Rodrigues Gatti is now being held by Brazilian police over his death. The couple had gone, with their infant son, to the country as a second honeymoon. While being questioned by police Amanda Rodriguez had made a number of contradictory statements. It is also reported that the strap of her handbag has traces of blood on it: leading to speculation that Gatti was strangled with it, perhaps while unconscious from a blow to the head.
The authorities are preparing a formal accusation against Amanda Gatti: this is not quite the same as being charged, for the Brazilian legal system is based upon the Portuguese and the system is quite different from that here in the USA. Being "accused" means that Amanda Rodriguez will become an "arguendo", one who must answer questions as to her activities and respond to the police as they try to solve the crime. Only if the investigating police and magistrates uncover further evidence will she, at some point in the possible future, actually be charged.
The relationship between Amanda Rodrigues Gatti and her now dead husband, Arturo, was known to be volatile. In March of this year Gatti was charged with assaulting Amanda Rodriguez but he failed to appear in court to answer the charges. When he did appear, in April, he was released on bail and ordered to be at least 200 meters away from Rodriguez at all times.
http://www.examiner.com/x-14795-Page-One-Examiner~y2009m7d12-Amanda-Rodrigues-Gatti
