Status: 04/21/2023 01:13 am
Hollywood star Alec Baldwin has been charged with manslaughter after being fatally shot while filming. But now he can probably avoid criminal proceedings: According to his lawyers, the proceedings are being discontinued.
Charges against Hollywood star Alec Baldwin for fatally shooting a camerawoman during a western shoot are to be dropped. This was announced by the lawyers of the actor accused of negligent homicide. “We are pleased with the decision to drop the case against Alec Baldwin,” said attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro. “We encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.” However, the responsible public prosecutor in the state of New Mexico has not yet confirmed the termination of the proceedings.
Baldwin accidentally shot and killed 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a revolver during a rehearsal for low-budget western Rust in October 2021. The Colt .45 had been loaded with a real bullet. How this could happen is still unclear.
Baldwin had pleaded not guilty
Baldwin was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter last January. If convicted, the 65-year-old could face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Baldwin, known for films such as “The Hunt for Red October” and “The Temptation of Blondes” and the series “30 Rock”, had denied any responsibility for Hutchins’ death and pleaded not guilty in court. He claims he had no way of knowing there was live ammunition in the Colt. The actor, who is one of the producers of “Rust”, had previously been handed the gun with the words that it was “cold” – i.e. not loaded with live ammunition.
In the case, two new special prosecutors recently took over the investigation. They could bring new charges. There had been some difficulties in the previous investigations. The public prosecutor’s office had to weaken the charges against Baldwin in February for legal reasons. The question was whether aggravating circumstances could be asserted due to the use of a firearm. Ultimately, the prosecutor dropped that point. Baldwin’s lawyers had argued that no such law was in force at the time of the accident.
Proceedings against armorer continue
The suit also included on-set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter. According to the magazine “Variety” the procedure should be continued in this case. Assistant director Dave Halls, who handed the revolver to Baldwin, was sentenced to six months’ probation in late March for negligent handling of a deadly weapon. He had previously pleaded guilty as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
Meanwhile, “Rust” is supposed to be finished. It was only on Tuesday that the production company Rust Movie Productions announced that filming should resume on Thursday. Hutchins’ widower Matthew Hutchins will be involved as a producer. That was part of an out-of-court settlement last February, in exchange for which Matthew Hutchins withdrew his civil suit. Other civil lawsuits are pending.