@krnel
If I was directing the movie version I would have him having a "Dead man switch" which kept him alive since his previous arrest, and then having those that are afraid of him speaking fake his suicide. This prevents the Dead Man Switch from activating, him being forced to testify, and him being taken into the witness protection system.

Instead, he goes into the Protect the Accused from their Witness system!

Just a good possible plot twist... Who knows?