Here is story reproduced? But then maybe like Vince Foster he did suicide? Saba ·Actor Blake's Lawyer Found Dead in Apparent Suicide - Reuters (Jul 8, 2001)More... Sunday July 8 12:58 AM ET Attorney Barry Levin Found Dead Photos Reuters Photo By LOUINN LOTA, Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) - Criminal attorney Barry Levin, who helped handle Erik Menendez's murder defense and more recently represented actor Robert Blake, apparently committed suicide by shooting himself in the head Saturday at a veterans cemetery. Levin, 54, appeared to have committed suicide, said FBI (news - web sites) spokesman Matthew McLaughlin. Levin suffered from Gaucher's disease, said Ron Dorfman, a fellow attorney who spoke at a news conference at the cemetery. Gaucher's disease is an inherited enzyme-deficiency disorder whose victims bleed and bruise easily. Levin was in constant, severe pain and had already had a shoulder replaced because of the disease, Dorfman said. ``True to his character, Barry did not want to burden his friends and colleagues with his suffering, and they were not aware of his deteriorating physical condition,´´ Dorfman said. ``I was certainly devastated, but not surprised. The discomfort he was in was extreme.´´ Levin was found slumped over the steering wheel of his vehicle about 2 p.m., McLaughlin said. The FBI was investigating because the death occurred at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, which is federal property. KFWB-AM said Levin talked to some people at the cemetery Saturday before going off alone and shooting himself. Levin, a former city police officer, was one of the best-known attorneys in Los Angeles. Levin was a co-counsel for Menendez, who was sentenced to life without parole in 1996 with brother Lyle for killing their parents. Attorney Leslie Abramson, who was Levin's co-counsel on the Menendez case, described Levin as ``all heart for his clients.´´ ``He had a tremendous understanding for people, especially veterans. He was a great guy with a fair amount of tragedy in his own life. He´s been a colleague and a friend for many years, and a wonderful lawyer. He was always my hero.´´ Levin recently represented Blake, star of the ``Baretta´´ TV series, whose wife´s recent murder is unsolved. He was also the lead defense attorney in a case stemming from alleged corruption in the city's police department. He represented Sgt. Edward Ortiz who with two other officers was convicted in November of conspiracy and other charges alleging they framed alleged gang members. The convictions were overturned. In May, attorney Harland Braun brought Levin into the Blake case, saying his police experience would be valuable in monitoring the investigation. Braun said he had not known Levin was ill. ``He was always optimistic. We talked every three days. I can´t believe a suicide - he was such a fighter.´´ Levin served as an Army staff sergeant and paratrooper and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He wrote about post-traumatic stress disorder and defending Vietnam veterans with the disorder. Levin is survived by a wife, Debbie, and two daughters. -30- Copyright © 2001 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Questions or Comments Privacy Policy - Terms of Service
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