Nancy Benoit Hustler Pictures Appeal

The 2007 Chris Benoit case may never see closure as more and more revelations or controversies seem to crop up. The most recent is over a court appeal regarding the late Nancy Benoit, whom Benoit murdered inside their home several years back. Larry Flynt's Hustler magazine published nude photos taken of Nancy Benoit in its magazine last year. The photos, taken at least 20 years ago, were apparently ordered by Nancy to never be published, however the photographer did so anyway.

The Chicago Sun Times reported on a federal appeals court's recent verdict on this controversy:

A federal appeals court yesterday ruled that Hustler magazine didn't have the right to publish decades-old nude photographs of Nancy Benoit, who was killed by her professional wrestler husband Chris two years ago.

The nudes were put out in print a year ago by the Larry Flynt-driven publication, but a lawsuit filed on Benoit's behalf says the woman asked the photographer to destroy the images 20 years ago.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling found that a notorious death doesn't give publishers a blank check to publish any images they wish -- including those not linked to a newsworthy event. Such a policy, the court warned, would mean that the entire life of any victim of a notorious slaying would instantly be open to public scrutiny.

This decision reversed an earlier ruling in the magazine's favor that said the photos were part of a legitimate matter of public interest and concern.

The pictures in discussion were taken decades ago before Chris Benoit and Nancy were married. The photos feature "suggestive poses" including full frontal nudity from Nancy's modeling work. Her mother, Maureen Toffoloni said that the photographer who had originally taken these pictures promised that the pictures were all destroyed. Back in 2008, a US district court judge ruled against the family saying the nude photos were "newsworthy". Upon the family's appeal, they finally have a reverse decision in their favor.

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