Involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin for the killing of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins are expected to be filed in court today.
The actor, 64, and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor for the movie, will both face charges in connection with the fatality that occurred in October 2021 during a Western movie set rehearsal.
The 30 Rock actor, who was seen on Sunday walking around New York as his wife Hilaria unpacked their vehicle and carried his phone and documents, may go on trial this year for the murder.
Following the announcement on January 19 by a state prosecutor that her husband will be charged, Hilaria, 39, said she doesn’t ‘feel so strong.
It’s been an emotional moment for my family, she remarked in a recent edition of her podcast Witches Anonymous. And I really want to let you know how appreciative I am of your help, your compassion, and your motivation.
Sincerely, we would collapse without it. Therefore, I want to thank you for being our rock at this time since I don’t feel very strong.
Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are each facing two sets of involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the incident, according to Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies.
The district attorney’s office would publish criminal papers and a statement of probable cause describing the facts, she said via a spokesperson on Monday.
The film industry has already implemented new safety measures as a result of Hutchins’ passing.
Involuntary manslaughter can involve a fatality that occurs while a defendant is engaging in a lawful but risky activity and is acting carelessly or recklessly.
On the Rust set, there was a pattern of “criminal disregard for safety,” according to special prosecutor Andrea Reeb.
The terms of a plea agreement with assistant director David Halls, who was in charge of the set’s safety, have also been made public, according to the prosecution.
The identity of the person who handed Baldwin the gun during the unfilmed rehearsal has been disputed by participants.
They said that Halls had agreed to admit culpability in the careless use of a lethal weapon.
According to a search warrant, prior witnesses have said that Halls gave Baldwin the pistol and that he pronounced it to be a “cold gun” even though there was live ammunition in the chamber.
On sets, the phrase “cold gun” is used to indicate that live ammunition is not being utilized.
Halls said that he delivered the rifle to Gutierrez-Reed in a December deposition with the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau, denying handing it to Baldwin. Additionally, he charged Gutierrez-Reed with using a “cold gun.”
Hutchins’ death, according to Halls, was similar to an aircraft catastrophe in that “a system failure” rather than any one person’s negligence was to blame.
Halls said in the deposition that he did not “recall” saying “cold gun,” but he did add, “I do remember Hannah mentioning that.”
It’s similar to what people say about an airline disaster, they say.
It seems like there isn’t just one thing, you know. The system has failed.
If the case goes to trial, the assistant director may even be called to testify against Baldwin.
Prosecutors are “fully focused on securing justice for Halyna Hutchins,” according to Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, who also noted that “the evidence and the facts speak for themselves.”
Rust co-producer and actor Baldwin has called the death “a tragic accident.”
The 64-year-old actor claims he was informed the weapon was secure, and he is suing those who handled and provided the loaded weapon in an effort to clear his name.
45 mm revolver.
Baldwin said in his complaint that as he and Hutchins were adjusting camera angles, he pointed the pistol in her direction, drew back, and released the weapon’s hammer, causing it to fire.
The allegations, according to Gutierrez-defense Reed’s attorney Jason Bowles, are the product of a “flawed investigation” and a “inaccurate grasp of the whole facts.”
According to New Mexico law, involuntary manslaughter associated with carelessness is a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The second set of charges for manslaughter allege recklessness with a clause that could result in a mandatory five-year prison sentence because the crime involved a firearm.
Baldwin will receive a summons after charges have been filed with the court, but he won’t have to travel to New Mexico to comply with it in person.
He will be permitted to virtually appear before the judge instead.
The hearing is the first stage of a drawn-out legal procedure.
After examining the evidence that the prosecutors have gathered, a judge must make a decision regarding whether or not the case can go to trial.
An investigation into probable cause would be that.
The case will go to trial if Baldwin enters a not guilty plea, which is what is anticipated of him.
Baldwin has the option to appeal a conviction, and it is likely that he will do so.
There would probably be a delay in sentencing until then.
If Baldwin is found guilty of involuntary manslaughter with the firearm enhancement that prosecutors discussed today, he must serve a minimum of five years in prison.
There is a $5,000 fine associated with the charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Both live and fake rounds were available in Seth Kenney’s prop store, which provided the dummy rounds for Rust.
He admitted to the police that Gutierrez-Reed had been using live ammunition on the set, but he didn’t explain how she got the shots.
According to Baldwin, this is the key question that has to be answered.
He has always maintained that the person who brought those rounds onto the set and combined them with dummies is at fault, and his supporters concur.
Alec Baldwin may or may not have fired the gun.
Baldwin claims he did not fire the gun since the incident occurred while he was practicing.
He claims that he took the revolver out of his holster and pointed it in the direction of Hutchins, director Joel Souza, and the other cast members.
Importantly, he has always insisted that it was “cocked,” although he claims he did not shoot it.
These assertions were refuted by an FBI investigation issued in August, which said that the trigger had to have been pressed in order for the pistol to fire while it was cocked.
According to the same source, if the gun was not cocked, it could be feasible for it to discharge without the trigger being pressed.
However, Baldwin’s lawyers rejected such story. They said that it was based on limited testing. At trial, they’re likely to take it apart.
»For killing Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Alec Baldwin will be charged«