A grand jury in New Mexico has brought back the criminal case against Alec Baldwin concerning the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust”. This latest indictment comes a year after Baldwin was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter, a charge that was dropped in April due to the collapse of the local district attorney’s case.
Special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis presented new evidence to the jury, leading to Baldwin’s reindictment. He now faces one count of involuntary manslaughter, which could result in up to 18 months in prison if he is convicted. The court date for this case has yet to be set.
Baldwin’s legal team, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro from Quinn Emanuel, expressed their readiness to address these charges in court. Baldwin, who served as both star and producer of “Rust”, has consistently denied responsibility for Hutchins’ death.
The incident occurred during filming in 2021 when Baldwin discharged a revolver pointed towards the camera, unintentionally releasing an actual bullet that fatally wounded Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Investigators discovered five other live rounds on set, but the origin of these rounds remains undetermined.
Baldwin’s defense hinges on the expectation that actors rely on set professionals to ensure the safe handling of weapons. In a 2021 interview, Baldwin expressed his belief that someone else was responsible for the presence of live ammunition on set, a condition he claimed to be unaware of.
Assistant director Dave Halls, who informed Baldwin that the gun was safe, pleaded no contest last year to a misdemeanor charge related to the incident and received a six-month unsupervised probation sentence.
Hanna Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and has pleaded not guilty. Her court appearance is scheduled for February 21.
