Alec Baldwin, an actor, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a new charge of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a movie set in New Mexico in October 2021.
The actor was charged this month for the shooting, almost a year after the same charges were dropped by prosecutors. The prosecutor’s office stated that they would continue to investigate and may bring back the charges.
According to court documents, Baldwin chose to forego his right to an arraignment and made a plea.
The prosecutors presented the case to a grand jury in Santa Fe at the beginning of this month. They accused Baldwin of causing Hutchins’s death due to either negligence or a complete lack of concern for safety. The grand jury decided to charge him with a crime.
During a rehearsal in October 2021, Baldwin, who was a co-producer of the western drama, accidentally fired a gun at Hutchins, injuring her and the film’s director, Joel Souza. Hutchins passed away at a hospital nearby.
According to Baldwin, he released the gun’s hammer but did not intentionally pull the trigger, resulting in the shooting. During a 2021 interview, he stated that he mistakenly believed the gun was loaded with blanks and denied any wrongdoing in the incident.
The speaker believes that someone is to blame for the situation, but they know that it is not themselves. They express that they would have taken drastic measures if they truly believed they were at fault.
The main focus of the prosecution’s argument is his involvement as an actor holding the weapon and his responsibility as a co-producer for ensuring safety during production.
The charges against Baldwin were dropped after prosecutors found evidence that the hammer of the revolver may have been altered, making it capable of firing without the trigger being pulled.
However, an external forensic examination requested by the prosecutors determined that Baldwin would have been the one to pull the trigger of the revolver in order for the live round that hit Hutchins in the chest and resulted in her death to be fired.
According to the analysis, even though Alec Baldwin denies pulling the trigger, based on the tests, findings, and observations, it is evident that the trigger was pulled or pressed down enough to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the revolver in question.
Baldwin’s legal team has characterized the event as a “terrible tragedy” that has been transformed into a misguided prosecution.
Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, who are representing Baldwin, stated earlier this month that they are eagerly anticipating their day in court following news of the indictment.
David Halls, the assistant director of the film, was given a six-month suspended sentence and unsupervised probation. He was also fined $500, ordered to complete 24 hours of community service, and attend a firearms safety class. This was for being negligent in his handling of a deadly weapon that was involved in the case where Baldwin was given the weapon.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the main person responsible for weapons in the movie, had also used the gun prior to Halls. She has been accused of involuntary manslaughter and will go to trial later this year.
Baldwin and his fellow producers are also facing legal action in the form of civil lawsuits, requesting monetary damages. These lawsuits include claims from individuals who were part of the Rust production team. In 2022, the actor settled a case with Hutchins’s family for an undisclosed amount.
Rust Movie Productions has been fined $100,000 by workplace safety regulators in New Mexico.
In April of last year, the movie continued filming with executive producer Matthew Hutchins, who is the spouse of the deceased cinematographer.
According to this report by Reuters, they provided additional information.
Source: theguardian.com
