In a recent court document filed on Friday, renowned actor and producer Alec Baldwin has been charged with manslaughter in connection to the tragic shooting incident that occurred on the set of the film ‘Rust’ in 2021. During rehearsals for the low-budget Western in New Mexico, Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, was holding a Colt .45 when it discharged a live round, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has consistently denied responsibility for the incident, claiming he did not pull the trigger, and that the firearm should have been loaded with a dummy round. This development marks the latest attempt to hold someone accountable for the shocking incident, which had profound repercussions throughout Hollywood, sparking discussions on stricter regulations regarding firearms on movie sets.
Initial manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dropped in April 2021 due to “new facts” necessitating further investigation and forensic analysis. Subsequently, in October, prosecutors decided to convene a grand jury to assess the evidence and determine if there was a case to answer.
Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, issued a statement expressing their readiness for the upcoming court proceedings, while Baldwin potentially faces up to 18 months in jail if convicted of the new charge.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer responsible for weapon supply and maintenance, is scheduled to go on trial next month, facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. Prosecutors argue that she bears culpability as the person who loaded the gun, but she vehemently denies these allegations.
The mystery of how live rounds found their way onto the movie set remains unsolved. Dave Halls, the film’s safety coordinator and assistant director who handed the loaded gun to Baldwin, reached a plea deal with prosecutors and received a sentence of six months’ probation.
Despite the tragic incident, filming of ‘Rust’ resumed and has now been completed, with new locations in the US state of Montana. The film’s late cinematographer’s widower, Matthew Hutchins, settled a wrongful death suit with ‘Rust’ producers and expressed his lack of interest in blame or recriminations, characterizing his wife’s death as a “terrible accident.” Director Joel Souza also returned to complete the movie, acknowledging the bittersweet nature of the endeavor but affirming the cast and crew’s commitment to finishing what Halyna and he had started.
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