A New Mexico court is deliberating on a request from the estate of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, to seal records and images from their death investigation. Judge Matthew Wilson has temporarily halted the release pending a hearing. The couple's remains were found at their home, with Hackman dying from heart disease and complications from Alzheimer's, while Arakawa's cause of death was hantavirus. The estate argues that the release could infringe on the family's privacy rights, as some records are sensitive and not public under state law.
New Mexico's open records law prevents public access to sensitive images, including depictions of deceased individuals. This law aims to protect the dignity of the deceased.
Julia Peters, the estate's representative, argued that the release of certain records could be shocking and harmful to the family's privacy, emphasizing the emotional impact.
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