UPDATE, 1:47 PM: A judge in New Mexico has decided that police bodycam footage and photographs of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s deceased bodies will not be made public; however, the couple’s autopsy reports and images of their home and pets will be released.
Following a hearing this morning at the Santa Fe County courthouse, Judge Matthew Wilson announced his ruling. This decision reflects the reality that much of the information from the February 27 autopsies was already shared during a press conference held by medical officials and the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office on March 7.
In his ruling, Judge Wilson emphasized that no explicit images or photos from the couple’s autopsies will be disclosed to the public.
PREVIOUSLY, 12:21 PM: Attorney Kurt Sommer, representing the Hackmans’ estate, argued at today’s hearing that protecting the couple’s names and images is essential. “Their names and likenesses hold significant value, and it’s evident from the media’s desire to exploit these documents for profit,” he asserted, highlighting the estate’s responsibility to safeguard their legacy.
The hearing focused on whether to convert a temporary restraining order, issued on March 17, into a permanent injunction as further investigations into the couple’s deaths unfold. The court session attracted various attorneys, including those representing Santa Fe County and the University of New Mexico Medical Examiner’s Office, as well as media representatives from CBS and the Associated Press, who sought to participate in the proceedings.
Novelist Gene Hackman, aged 95, is believed to have passed away around February 18. Betsy Arakawa, 65, died about a week earlier, having suffered from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Their tragic circumstances, compounded by a pet found deceased at the scene and scattered medications, have captivated public interest.
“This case touches on privacy rights and the potential for security risks,” Sommer continued, underlining that the Hackmans had expected to maintain control over their images during their lives and posthumously. The public disclosure of footage could pose risks to the couple’s estate and invade their long-held privacy.
Conversely, Walker Boyd, representing Santa Fe County, argued for the release of the autopsy documents and police footage, emphasizing that withholding such information is unusual and counterproductive. He asserted that privacy rights do not extend beyond an individual’s death, highlighting the legal complications surrounding the case.
Ultimately, Judge Wilson has yet to deliver his final verdict, with the courtroom awaiting his decision amidst ongoing discussions about personal privacy and media freedom.
Vocabulary List:
- Autopsy /ɔːˈtɒp.si/ (noun): An examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death.
- Injunction /ɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/ (noun): A judicial order that restrains a person from an action.
- Estate /ɪˈsteɪt/ (noun): All the money and property owned by a particular person especially at death.
- Restraint /rɪˈstreɪnt/ (noun): A measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control.
- Disclose /dɪsˈkloʊz/ (verb): To make something known or public.
- Privacy /ˈpraɪ.və.si/ (noun): The state of being free from public attention or company.
How much do you know?
