US actor Alec Baldwin (65) has been indicted by a grand jury for negligent homicide following the death of a camerawoman in a shooting incident on the set of the western “Rust” more than two years ago. This was announced by the responsible court in the US state of New Mexico. A similar charge was made against the Hollywood star a year ago, but was dropped a few months later.
“We look forward to our day in court,” wrote Baldwin’s lawyers Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro in a statement that was available to the German Press Agency. A trial date was not initially announced.
The special prosecutors presented the case to a grand jury last year to initiate a new criminal case against Baldwin. In the United States, a grand jury investigates crimes after the prosecution presents evidence and decides whether charges should be filed.
The panel now favored two possible charges of involuntary manslaughter: either negligent use of a firearm or an act resulting in death with complete disregard or indifference to the safety of other people. The actor could face up to 18 months in prison if convicted, US media reported.
What happened?
Camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured while filming the western “Rust” on a film ranch in Santa Fe in October 2021. Director Joel Souza also suffered a gunshot wound. Baldwin, who starred and produced the film, was using a gun while rehearsing a scene when a shot was fired. There was a real bullet in the Colt. It is unclear how the live ammunition ended up on set.
After “extensive investigations” in recent months, additional facts have come to light that, in their view, show that Baldwin is criminally liable, special investigators Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis announced in October. Baldwin’s lawyers wrote in a statement at the time that it was unfortunate that a “horrible tragedy” was being turned into a “misguided prosecution.”
Baldwin denies guilt
Baldwin and gun master Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were charged with involuntary manslaughter in January 2023, and the charges against Baldwin were initially dropped in April. Further investigations and forensic analyzes were required, it was said at the time. The charges against Gutierrez-Reed remained standing and her trial is scheduled for the end of February. Both have always denied responsibility for the fatal accident.
Baldwin insisted in interviews that he did not pull the trigger. The investigators checked, among other things, whether a possible malfunction of the weapon could have triggered it. A report from two firearms experts published in August placed new charges on the actor. “Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, based on the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger must have been pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the revolver’s fully cocked or retracted hammer,” People magazine quotes. from the experts’ report.
Filming continued
Hutchins left behind a husband and a son. Widower Matthew Hutchins filed a civil lawsuit against Baldwin and other contributors in February 2022. In October, however, he announced that an agreement had been reached out of court and the lawsuit had been settled.
The initially stopped filming of “Rust” continued last April. In the western, Baldwin plays the bandit Harland Rust, who has a bounty on his head. Matthew Hutchins served as an executive producer. It was said at the time that they wanted to honor the work of Halyna Hutchins by completing the film.
Baldwin has been married to yoga teacher Hilaria Baldwin (40) since 2012 and they are parents to seven children. Baldwin also has a 28-year-old daughter from his marriage to actress Kim Basinger.
