ALONG CAME ....CLAUDINE LONGET

Singer Andy Williams and ex-wife Claudine Longet

There once was girl named Longet...

She went out to Aspen to play...

Along came a Spider...

He sat down beside her...
AND
She blew the bastard away...

Claudine Georgette Longet (born 29 January 1942) Born in Paris, France, Longet was married to pop singer Andy Williams from 1961 until 1975. She has maintained a private profile since 1977, following her conviction for misdemeanor negligent homicide in connection with the death of former Olympic skier "Spider" Sabich.

Andy Williams and Claudine Longet happier times

This crime happened in March of 1976. When it hit the airwaves it began a media frenzy very similar to the OJ Simpson murders. We all thought Longet had shot Spider Sabich out of jealousy.. There were tons of rumors flying about Spider having many younger women. But whatever the rumor... we all knew Longet would get a pass for this crime.

Longet and Sabich

She was just too pretty and innocent with that angelic face and sweet voice. Nope... we knew she wouldn't end up on death row. She received a deferred sentence of 30 days in County lock up. Longet even picked which days! The friends and family of Spider Sabich were outraged! But the power of celebrity won out once more... It would win out many more times over the next few decades...

Longet was arrested and charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend, Olympic skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich, at his Aspen, Colorado, home on 21 March 1976. At trial, Longet said the gun discharged accidentally as Sabich was showing her how it worked. Williams publicly supported Longet throughout the trial, even escorting her to and from the courthouse.

The handgun was a gift from Spider's father, a highway patrolman, and belonged to his younger brother Steve. An inexpensive copy of a German Luger, the pistol was purchased eight years earlier, while the Sabich family was in Europe to watch Spider compete at the 1968 Winter Olympics in France.

The weapon was stored unloaded and well-hidden under sweaters in a closet in Spider's home. Forensics showed that Sabich was bent over and at least 6 feet (1.8 m) from the gun when it discharged. Not exactly the position for demonstration the proper use of a hand gun....

The Aspen police made two procedural errors that aided Longet's defense: without warrants, they took a blood sample from her and confiscated her diary. According to prosecutors, the sample showed the presence of cocaine in her blood, and her diary reportedly contradicted her claim that her relationship with Sabich had not soured.

In addition, the gun was mishandled by non-weapons experts. As they were unable to cite any of the disallowed material, prosecutors did use the autopsy report to suggest that when Sabich was struck he was bent over, facing away, and at least 1.80 m (6 feet) from Longet, which would be inconsistent with the position and relative distance of someone demonstrating the operation of a firearm.

The jury convicted her of a lesser charge—misdemeanor criminal negligence—and sentenced her to pay a small fine and spend 30 days in jail. The judge allowed Longet to choose the days she served. She vacationed with her defense attorney during this time which just kept the media frenzy going...

Claudine by The Rolling Stones

After the criminal trial, the Sabich family initiated civil proceedings to sue Longet. The case was eventually resolved out of court, with the proviso that Longet never tell or write about her story.

She never has... We liked Andy Williams for standing by his ex-wife which was the honorable thing to do for his children. Longet disappeared off the radar, remains married to her former defense attorney, and lives in Aspen.