The Public Prosecutor Alberto Nisman, was found dead, with a pistol by his hand and a single shot into his brain, in the bathroom of his condominion on the 13th floor of a condo tower of Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires. It appears a suicide, as he is laying dead blocking the entry door to his bathroom. The main door and service entry appear locked.
He death occurred on the eve of his planned presentation to the Senate of his research on an alleged cover-up by the government of a deadly attack by Iranian terrorists on AMIA, an Israeli Center in Argentina
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He appears to have been an energetic, strong positive man, who had separated from his wife three years ago. He has two children. He had cut short his recent vacations in Europe where he celebrated his daughter's quinceanos (15th birthday) to return hastily to Argentina - without any as yet known explanation.
He worked on his presentation until a few hours before his death, arranged with his personal guard to pick him up at 11:30 for a dinner appointment, left a note for his maid listing his shopping requirements for the following Monday, had a phone conversation with a colleague and sent a photo of his work desk with his presentation to this friend.
His apartment is in a 'secure' building, which requires coded keys and numerical codes for all access. But small service doors leading to an outside passage where air conditioners are mounted are not coded - the passage connects adjoining apartments.
Nisman is surrounded by heavy security, owns two registered hand guns, but borrowed the one apparently used to kill himself with from a guard a couple of days ago. He had reason to fear that he may 'not come out of this alive' (meaning the denunciation of the Government) - so he said shortly before his death.
His guards waited for him at the appointed hour - but of course he does not turn up.
Things get messy and confusing after that....it takes several hours of calling relatives, police, ambulances (who were denied access by security), fire department, lock smiths (who later says that the service door was not locked) before anyone enters the apartment to find the occupant 'sin vida'.
The News of his death exploded over Argentina, demonstrations were held all over the country. There is nothing but coverage of this event on the News....fear is simmering.
The Government's response is at best ambiguous...and the Jury will be out on this for a long time.
Someone at the Milonga at Canning observed last night, when the usually packed dance venue was half empty: People may be afraid to leave home with all this upheaval in the country.
Makes one think and wonder.
