Vladimir Spider Sabich, 31, a professional skier and two-time pro champion of Croatian descent, was shot dead in the bathroom of his Starwood home in Aspen, Colorado, on March 21, 1976. He bled profusely after the wound to his abdomen and died in the ambulance en route to the hospital with his girlfriend, French-American singer and actress Claudine Longet, at his side.

Longet, 34, was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting. She said the gun, an imitation .22 German Luger, discharged accidentally while Sabich was showing her how it worked. Rumors that Sabich planned to end their four-year relationship and reports that the autopsy indicated he was bent over and facing away from Longet when shot fed public doubt about her account. Procedural errors by the Aspen police led to a blood sample from Longet and her personal diary being ruled inadmissible at trial.

A jury convicted Longet of misdemeanor negligent homicide and she received a 30-day jail sentence to be served on weekends plus a small fine, a result that provoked widespread criticism.