Alec Baldwin is to be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the accidental shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the low-budget Western “Rust,” a prosecutor said Thursday.
Baldwin was holding a Colt .45 during rehearsals for the film when it killed Halina Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza in October 2021.
New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweiss announced that the film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was responsible for the weapon, would also be charged with the same crime.
If convicted, both could face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine, but the firearms enhancement could bring the sentence to five years.
“After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and the other members of the ‘Rust’ film crew,” Carmack-Altweiss said. Told.
“In my eyes, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice.”
Baldwin, 64, has repeatedly said that he was told by the crew that the gun was not loaded.
The former “30 Rock” star also previously said he did not pull the trigger, though experts have cast doubt on that claim.
Luke Nicks, Baldwin’s attorney, vowed to dismiss the allegation, which he called a “terrible miscarriage of justice.”
“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe that there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the set of the film,” he said.
“He trusted the professionals he worked with, who assured him that the gun did not contain live rounds. We will fight these allegations and we will win.”
– Live rounds on set –
Assistant director David Halles, who gave Baldwin the weapon and told him it was “cool” — industry speak for safe — has agreed to plead guilty to reckless use of a deadly weapon.
He will serve a suspended sentence and six months’ probation, it said in a statement.
No charges will be filed for the injury Souza suffered.
Baldwin, a co-producer of the film, and Gutierrez Reed have been charged with two counts of murder involving varying levels of negligence.
A jury, if it convicts, will be able to choose who.
Both counts carry a maximum jail term of 18 months, but one of them – involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act – carries an additional mandatory fine because a gun was involved in the death.
The firearms enhancement offense carries a five-year prison sentence.
“If any one of these three people — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reid or David Hall — had done their job, Halina Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple,” said special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, appointed by the district attorney. .
“The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for security on the sets of the film ‘Rust’.
“In New Mexico, there is no place for film sets that do not take seriously our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety.”
A lengthy investigation has looked at how the live round – and five others – arrived at the set, focusing on the armory and ammunition supplier.
Investigators found that Gutierrez Reed had put the fatal round in Baldwin’s gun instead of using an identical-looking dummy round.
Detectives probing the tragedy spoke of a lax attitude towards security during filming, and crew members later claimed that corners had been cut.
The accident shocked Hollywood and led to calls for a complete ban on the use of real guns on set.
Industry experts have said that there are already stringent safety regulations in place and the only way for such an accident to happen is to ignore them.
Baldwin reached an undisclosed settlement last year with the family of 42-year-old Hutchins.
It was also announced at the time that production on the low-budget film would resume this year.
Widower Matthew Hutchins, who would become an executive producer, said that “all the original key players” would return to the set.
Souza said he would dedicate his work on the film “to honoring and making Halina’s legacy proud”.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)