Why were charges dropped against Alec Baldwin over Rust set death?

Alec Baldwin: Why were charges dropped against the actor over Halyna Hutchins’ death?

• New Mexico investigation into Baldwin fell apart despite damning FBI report 
• Set armorer Gutierrez-Reed could still face charges over death of Hutchins
• The actor, 65, discovered Thursday that two charges were dropped 

After a media circus and conflicting stories, Alec Baldwin will get off scot free after firing the gun that killed a cinematographer on the New Mexico set of his film Rust. 

The actor, 65, discovered Thursday that two involuntary manslaughter charges against him over the October 2021 killing of Halyna Hutchins have been dropped. 

The news arrived on the same day that Baldwin and other cast members resumed filming the movie in Montana. 

Production stopped abruptly in October 2021 when Baldwin shot a live round from a prop gun killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the movie’s New Mexico set.

‘We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident,’ lawyers Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a statement.

After a media circus and conflicting stories, Alec Baldwin will get off scot free after firing the gun that killed a cinematographer on the New Mexico set of his film Rust

Baldwin, 65, was charged in January with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins’ death and the injury of ‘Rust’ director Joel Souza, who was struck by the same bullet that passed through Hutchins.

The case against Baldwin had already been diminishing. A weapons charge that would have meant a much longer sentence had already been dismissed, and the first special prosecutor appointed in the case resigned. 

This despite a damning report from the FBI that concluded that Alec Baldwin did pull the trigger of the gun that killed cinematographer on the set of Rust – despite him repeatedly stating that he did not. 

The report could still lead to criminal charges against the actor and others involved in the accidental shooting, with Santa Fe cops still investigating Hutchin’s death. 

New Mexico prosecutors have been beset by legal errors since they filed charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed in January. The most serious charges against the defendants were dropped in February, and two prosecutors have stepped down.

The source, who is familiar with talks between Baldwin’s defense attorneys and special prosecutors, said prosecutors are expected to drop the charges against Baldwin in a court filing as soon as Thursday.

New evidence showed the firearm used by Baldwin had been modified, and prosecutors could no longer prove that it required a trigger pull in order to fire, the source said.

The two sides had been discussing the charges ahead of a May 3 hearing, when a New Mexico judge was set to decide whether Baldwin should stand trial.

The actor, 65, discovered Thursday that two involuntary manslaughter charges against him over the October 2021 killing of Halyna Hutchins (pictured) have been dropped

The news arrived on the same day that Baldwin and other cast members resumed filming the movie in Montana

Baldwin was accused of showing a ‘reckless’ disregard for safety in Hutchins’ death. He pleaded not guilty in February after prosecutors downgraded the seriousness of the charges, reducing the potential prison time. 

He has in interviews said he was told the gun was safe and that he never pulled the trigger. 

After a scathing safety review by regulators in New Mexico that detailed ignored complaints and misfires before Hutchins’ death in October of 2021, the production company agreed to pay a $100,000 fine. 

Baldwin’s co-defendant and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is still facing the charges against her.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether charges could be refiled, nor whether the charge would also be dropped against Gutierrez-Reed.

Gutierrez-Reed´s attorneys said that they ‘fully expect at the end of this process that Hannah will also be exonerated.’

This will keep the probe into the accident open and allow prosecutors to retain subpoena power going forward.

It comes just days after the filing of the witness list for the preliminary hearing on May 3 became public.

That includes former Rust script supervisor Mamie Mitchell — who is suing Baldwin and his fellow producers in one of the many suit against them. 

Camera crews were there to capture the tender moment Alec kissed his wife and child goodbye on Wednesday  

Despite the controversy, on Tuesday a spokesperson for Rust Movie Productions told CNN filming will continue at the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana

Baldwin is seen standing next to Hutchins – a mom-of-one – on the set of Rust in October 2021  

However it is thought that the hearing will not go ahead, with prosecutors looking into the circumstances of the incident again.

It follows the  Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies stepping down from the case late last month. 

Baldwin had yet to even travel to New Mexico for a court appearance, and none had been required of him under state law. Evidentiary hearings had been scheduled for next month to determine whether to proceed toward trial.

Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies had said previously that her office is pursuing justice in the death of Hutchins and wants to show that no one is above the law when it comes to firearms and public safety. She says the Ukrainian-born cinematographer´s death was tragic and preventable.

The two special prosecutors handling the case in New Mexico’s First Judicial District had no comment, their spokesperson Heather Brewer said. 

Source: Read Full Article