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Claudine Longet, Singer and Actress Linked to 1976 Sabich Case, Dies at 84

Her death refocuses attention on a case that tested police procedures, shaping public views on celebrity justice.

Overview

  • Longet’s nephew, Bryan Longet, disclosed Thursday that she had died at 84, and no cause was released.
  • In March 1976, she shot Olympic skier Vladimir “Spider” Sabich in their Aspen bathroom with a .22-caliber pistol, which she said discharged by accident.
  • A jury in January 1977 found her guilty of criminally negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, leading to two years’ probation, a $250 fine and 30 days in jail.
  • The prosecution’s case was weakened by police errors, including an illegal blood draw and evidence gathered without a warrant, which narrowed what the court could consider.
  • Sabich’s parents later settled a $1.3 million lawsuit after she agreed not to speak about the shooting, and she withdrew from public life after marrying defense attorney Ronald Austin in 1985.