The charges against actor Alec Baldwin in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” will be dropped in a New Mexico court. The ruling comes less than two weeks before the scheduled start of Hutchins’ death trial in October 2021. Special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis are expected soon to file documents dismissing the manslaughter allegation against the actor.
The cinematographer died after being hit by a shot from an allegedly set weapon, fired by Baldwin, while filming the indie western. He and witnesses say they heard the assistant director say the gun did not contain live ammunition.
“We are pleased with the decision to drop the case against Alec Baldwin and encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident,” said Baldwin attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro.
Representatives from the district attorney’s office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, did not comment. According to Deadline, charges against gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, responsible for supplying the revolver with a real bullet to the plaintiff, must stand, keeping the trial ongoing.
Also involved was assistant director Dave Halls, who handed the gun to the actor claiming it was “cold”, i.e. out of ammunition, sealed a deal, pleading guilty to serving six months on probation.
Both Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin plead not guilty. The actor has emphasized in interviews that he did not pull the trigger on the gun that killed his colleague. But the FBI disagreed in its report on the matter, released last year. With Baldwin’s attorneys disputing the state of the weapon, further investigations must be conducted.
Baldwin had already struck a deal with the cinematographer’s widower to complete “Rust” and provide him with film revenue to help raise his son. After the deal, Matthew Hutchins said: “I have no interest in getting involved or placing blame (on the producers or Mr. Baldwin). We all believe that Halyna’s death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to honor his latest work.”
Production on “Rust” was originally scheduled to resume this week, with Baldwin and director Joel Souza, who was also injured in the 2021 crash, attending.
Source: Terra

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