Comprehensive information and links about Claudine Longet

Claudine Longet (born in Paris on January 29, 1942), was a popular singer and recording artist in the 1960s and 1970s. She was best known as the wife of singer Andy Williams from 1961 to 1975 and later as the accused killer of ski star Spider Sabich. She was acquitted by a jury. She met Williams while she was a dancer in the Folies Bergere in Las Vegas, and they had three children, Noelle, Christian, and Robert. In 1968, she appeared in the film "The Party" with Peter Sellers and sang the song "Nothing to Lose" by Henry Mancini. Longet recorded a series of five albums for AM Records between 1966 and 1970 and two albums for Williams' Barnaby label in 1971 and 1972. She also made frequent acting appearances in television series and also appeared from time to time on Williams' variety series and specials. Williams called Longet, a beautiful, sleek brunette with large doe eyes, "my favorite French singer."

Longet was arrested and charged with the March 21, 1976 shooting death of her lover, Olympic skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich at his Aspen, Colorado home after he had showered and was preparing to dress. Sabich was a very handsome athlete with no loss for female companionship when he met Longet. As their relationship progressed, Longet and her three children moved in with Sabich, radically altering his bachelor life. There were widespread rumors of discord between the couple before the shooting. At the sensational trial, Longet claimed the gun discharged accidentally as Sabich was showing her how it worked. Williams very publicly supported Claudine throughout the trial, even escorting her to and from the courthouse. It was also no secret that Williams and Longet were close friends of the rich and powerful Kennedy family.

The Aspen police made two enormous blunders which turned the tide for Longet. They took a blood sample from Longet and confiscated her diary without warrants. Longet's blood contained cocaine, and her diary showed that her relationship with Sabich had turned bitter. Since the evidence was not obtained legally, however, the prosecution couldn't use it. Given her opportunity to speak at the end of the trial, Longet reiterated her innocence and pleaded for mercy because her three young children needed her. The jury acquitted her of felony manslaughter but convicted her of criminal negligence, a misdemeanor, and sentenced her to pay a small fine and spend 30 days in jail. As a generous gesture, Judge Lohr allowed Longet to choose the days she served, believing that this arrangement would allow her to spend the most time with her children. Longet chose to work off most of her sentence on weekends. Once the trial was over, she took off for a vacation with her defense attorney Ron Austin. Austin left his wife and children to do so. Longet and Austin later married and still remain together, residing in Aspen.

Longet has never performed again. After the criminal trial, the Sabich family initiated civil proceedings to sue Longet. The case was eventually settled out of court for a large monetary settlement, with the proviso that Longet never tell or write about her story.

Trivia

The incident of criminal negligence in the death of Sabich was the subject of a song written by Mick Jagger which was ultimately cut from the album Emotional Rescue (1980), although copies have surfaced due to piracy over the years.