Gentile: Did Amesbury feel guilt over betrayal of friends in HOA scandal?

The longtime Las Vegas criminal defense attorney has a definite opinion of the recent suspected suicide death of lawyer David Amesbury, who was caught up in the middle of the ongoing investigation of corruption inside local homeowners associations.

Amesbury’s suspicious hanging death has all the signs of a suicide. He is one of four persons linked to the investigation to be suspected of taking their own life.

In a March 26 memo to a Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice colleague, Gentile wrote of Amesbury’s demise: “Yes, it is sad.  But it is not unusual for those who turn on their friends and loved ones to commit suicide. It is one of the reasons that over the years I have always counseled my clients about how they might feel if they chose to do so.  Thus far, none have.  Nor have they committed suicide. It begs the question of whether a lawyer should ever allow a client to become an informant or a government witness without considering the psychological effects it may have.  There are some things worse than prison.  Mental anguish and the sense of committing betrayal may be one of them.

“May he rest in Peace.”

I wonder whether those who knew Amesbury would agree. Or, was he deeply troubled in his personal life in addition to being caught up in the HOA scandal and becoming a key government witness in the case?