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Actress's Life After Fatal Shooting of Olympian Boyfriend
2 May
Summary
- Claudine Longet shot Olympian boyfriend Vladimir Sabich in 1976.
- Longet received a 30-day sentence due to trial errors.
- She lives a private life with her former defense attorney, now husband.
In 1976, French-born actress Claudine Longet was involved in a tragic incident where she fatally shot her Olympian boyfriend, Vladimir "Spider" Sabich, in Aspen. Longet, who had previously been married to Andy Williams, met Sabich after her separation from Williams.
The shooting occurred on March 21, 1976, when Longet, reportedly after drinking, discharged a Luger pistol while Sabich was preparing to shower. Longet claimed the gun fired accidentally as Sabich was demonstrating its safety features. Prosecutors disputed this, citing the position of Sabich's body.
Longet faced charges of reckless manslaughter. However, procedural errors, including the mishandling of evidence and improper administration of blood tests, significantly weakened the prosecution's case. Ultimately, in January 1977, she was convicted of misdemeanor negligent homicide.
Her sentence consisted of 30 days in jail, which she could serve on weekends, and two years of probation. Following the trial, Longet moved in with her defense attorney, Ron Austin, whom she later married. The couple now lives a private life, reportedly with a second home in Hawaii.
