Gene Hackman's family secure huge win after bombshell will revelation
Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their New Mexico home last month as it has been revealed his children are not included in his will
Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their New Mexico home last month as it has been revealed his children are not included in his willGene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home (
Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Gene Hackman's family have been granted a huge decision following his tragic death. The Hollywood icon was found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa in their New Mexico home last month, with a widespread investigation following.
Last week, it was confirmed Gene's children are not included in his will as fears continue over a huge battle for his ÂŁ40million fortune. In a sensational twist, all the money was set to go to wife Betsy in the event of his death and not to his three children - son Christopher and daughters Leslie and Elizabeth.
In the event of the pair of them dying within 90 days of each other, all of Betsyâs money was set to go to charity. His children have previously said that they had a good relationship with their dad. But his daughter Elizabeth had not spoken to him in months before his death.
Despite the heated debate over the will, the family have received a win as a New Mexico court has approved a temporary hold on the release of documents related to Gene and Betsy's deaths. The documents contain sensitive footage and images. A temporary restraining order, which was granted on Monday, was submitted by Julia Peters, a representative for the coupleâs estate, to protect the familyâs right to privacy in grief under the 14th amendment of the US constitution.
Under the order, documents containing images or videos of the body of Gene or Betsy, the interior of their home, or their deceased animals, cannot be released. Post-mortem examination and death investigation reports are also not able to be disclosed by the Office Of The Medical Investigator under the hold.
It comes after the pair were found dead along with one of their dogs at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26. A pathologist said Hackman died, aged 95, of heart disease a week after Arakawa died, aged 65, of a rare infectious disease. A hearing to argue the merits of the order has been scheduled for later this month.
The US stateâs open records law blocks public access to sensitive images, including depictions of people who are deceased. But the bulk of death investigations by law enforcement and post-mortem examination reports by medical investigators are still typically considered public records under state law to ensure government transparency and accountability.
Hackman won two Oscars during a storied career in films including The French Connection, Hoosiers and Superman from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.
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