Rivkin's death ends long fall from grace: [6 NSW Country Edition]
Drew Warne-Smith, John Stapleton. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 02 May 2005: 1.
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Abstract
By 5.30pm, his son Jordan, who has assumed the reins of Mr [RENE Rivkin]'s business empire after he was convicted of insider trading, and other family members, had also gathered at the apartment. NSW police last night refused to confirm that he had committed suicide, but said there were no suspicious circumstances. His body had no external injuries.
His lawyer Mr [Greg Walsh], who last spoke to Mr Rivkin four weeks ago, said he had a deep-rooted sense of abandonment and had moved in with his mother whom he felt was his greatest supporter. "He felt this shame that he could just never recover from," Mr Walsh said. "He said you can't understand what it's like to feel like you've let your family and yourself down in this way."
Mr Rivkin's conviction stemmed from his purchase of 50,000 Qantas shares just hours after learning of a potential merger between Qantas and Impulse airlines. He was fined $30,000 and sentenced to nine months' weekend detention.
RENE Rivkin last night found the peace he so desperately craved.
Seven months after he first tried to take his own life, the fallen stockbroker was found dead in a bedroom of his mother's apartment in Darling Point, Sydney. He was 60.
Recovering from that first attempted suicide, he had told his lawyer and close friend Greg Walsh that the most peace he'd ever felt in his life was after he took the drugs and waited for them to take effect and claim his life.
"He wanted that peace again," Mr Walsh told The Australian last night. "He told me he had no fear of death, and that he was sure he would die soon."
His death ended his seemingly relentless demise since the disgraced stockbroker was jailed for insider trading in 2003.
Recently separated from his wife Gayle and suffering deep depression, Mr Rivkin had lived as a virtual recluse since he moved into the Sydney penthouse, owned by his widowed mother Rachael, about a month ago.
It is understood she found his body in his bedroom about 4.30pm and immediately called an ambulance. Two crews of paramedics arrived at the apartment at 4.42pm, but he could not be revived.
Three police cars arrived shortly after, followed by a visibly distraught Gayle, his wife of 32 years.
By 5.30pm, his son Jordan, who has assumed the reins of Mr Rivkin's business empire after he was convicted of insider trading, and other family members, had also gathered at the apartment. NSW police last night refused to confirm that he had committed suicide, but said there were no suspicious circumstances. His body had no external injuries.
"There were no suspicious circumstances, and there appears to be no injuries on initial examination," Detective Inspector Grant Taylor said. "The exact circumstances of how he was found is still a matter for investigation."
However, there appears little doubt Mr Rivkin finally fulfilled his promise to take his own life.
His life has been crumbling ever since he was sentenced to serve nine months of periodic detention, which he completed at Long Bay jail in October.
Continued -- Page 4
From Page 1
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the father of five first attempted suicide by a drug overdose in September.
The trappings of his success, the $17million mansion Craig-y- mor, super-yacht, his luxury cars and helicopter had all been sold off.
And he had lost contact with the powerbrokers who befriended him during his three-decade reign as the guru of the stock market: the likes of Kerry Packer, Alan Bond, Alan Jones, John Singleton and recently jailed HIH director Rodney Adler. His long list of medical and psychological ills included brain tumours, gall bladder problems, deep vein thrombosis, pneumonia and depression.
The Rivkin family released a brief statement at 8pm last night, which was read out by police. "He will be sadly missed by all," the statement said.
A close friend from the Jewish community, who would not be named, spoke to Mr Rivkin in his final 24 hours and said he was "absolutely devastated" by his marriage break-up and the likelihood it would receive widespread publicity.
His lawyer Mr Walsh, who last spoke to Mr Rivkin four weeks ago, said he had a deep-rooted sense of abandonment and had moved in with his mother whom he felt was his greatest supporter. "He felt this shame that he could just never recover from," Mr Walsh said. "He said you can't understand what it's like to feel like you've let your family and yourself down in this way."
"We tried to reassure him but it was no good. Most of our time was spent trying to prevent this outcome."
Mr Rivkin's conviction stemmed from his purchase of 50,000 Qantas shares just hours after learning of a potential merger between Qantas and Impulse airlines. He was fined $30,000 and sentenced to nine months' weekend detention.
Insecure on inside -- Page 10
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