2023-04-20 23:40:04
Lawsuits against American actor Alec Baldwin, accused of manslaughter after a fatal shooting on the set of the film Rust in 2021, will be abandoned, his lawyers assured Thursday. “We welcome the decision to close the case against Alec Baldwin and encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident,” Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a statement sent to AFP.
On October 21, 2021, the shooting of the film Rust on a ranch in New Mexico had turned tragic when Alec Baldwin had pointed a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets, but whose very real projectile had killed the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, and injured the director Joel Souza.
This rare news item had shocked Hollywood and provoked calls to ban firearms on the sets.
The day of the resumption of filming
The announcement of the closing of the case, revealed Thursday by the specialized site Deadline, comes the same day as the resumption of filming of the film in Montana, after a year and a half of interruption.
Alec Baldwin, known in particular for his role in the series 30 Rock, has always claimed his innocence and had pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter brought against him. According to the actor, he had been assured that his weapon was harmless. He also denies pulling the trigger, a claim doubted by many experts. After his indictment, his defense immediately denounced a “terrible miscarriage of justice”.
If convicted, the 65-year-old actor could face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Placed under judicial supervision, Alec Baldwin, who is also co-producer of Rusthad been allowed to finish filming his western, provided he refrained from drinking alcohol and using firearms or dangerous weapons.
Read also: Alec Baldwin formally charged with manslaughter after fatal shooting on set
The prosecution had already shown signs of weakness in this case. In February, the Santa Fe prosecutor decided to drop an aggravating circumstance against Alec Baldwin, which made him face five years behind bars. She then transferred the file to two other prosecutors, ensuring that her services were overwhelmed with work.
The lawsuits against the gunsmith are upheld
However, the case is not over: the two new magistrates must resume the investigation and still have the right to initiate new proceedings. Like Alec Baldwin, the gunsmith of Rust, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was also charged with manslaughter. According to Variety magazine, justice maintains these lawsuits for the moment.
During the initial investigation, officers concluded that she was the one who put the ammunition in the gun used by Alec Baldwin, instead of a dummy bullet. The armourer’s defense said they expect her to “also be exonerated” at the end of the legal process. In a press release, the lawyers praised the “very diligent and thorough approach” adopted by the new prosecutors now in charge of the investigations.
Read also: Hollywood and the guns, I love you too
At the end of March, the first assistant director of the film, Dave Halls, received a six-month suspended prison sentence in this case. He had handed the gun at the heart of the drama to the actor, assuring him that she was not dangerous, and he had agreed to plead guilty.
Filming for the film has resumed with Halyna Hutchins’ widower, Matthew, serving as executive producer. In October, he dropped his civil lawsuit against Alec Baldwin after an undisclosed settlement. The Ukrainian parents and the sister of the ex-director of photography, on the other hand, are still claiming civil damages.
In parallel with Rusta documentary about the life of Halyna Hutchins and the end of filming is also to be made.
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