Prosecutors have indicted Alec Baldwin on charges of involuntary manslaughter, seeking to hold the actor accountable once more for the fatality of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins that occurred on set.
Baldwin, 65, was accused with an initial offense in the case in January 2023. Three months later, however, the charges were dismissed after Baldwin’s defense team raised doubts as to whether his Colt.45 was operating effectively at the time of the discharge.
In October 2021, Hutchins was preparing to film a scene with Baldwin at a ranch in the vicinity of Santa Fe, New Mexico, when the pistol discharged. Baldwin continues to assert that he did not depress the trigger.
Baldwin could potentially spend a maximum of eighteen months in prison if convicted.
Friday’s statement from Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, read, “We eagerly anticipate our day in court.”
Jason Lewis and Kari Morrissey, both special prosecutors, forwarded the firearm for additional forensic analysis last summer. The pistol, which had been damaged during FBI testing, was reconstructed by their experts, Lucien and Michael Haag, who determined that it could have been discharged solely through the action of pulling the trigger.
The report concluded, “This fatal incident resulted from the hammer being manually retracted to its fully rearward and cocked position, which was then followed by the pull or rearward depression of the trigger.” “Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.”
In October, Morrissey and Lewis declared their intention to present the case to a grand jury within a two-month timeframe, citing “additional facts” that implicated Baldwin in the incident.
During that period, Nikas described the outcome as “unfortunate.”
Nikas stated, “It is regrettable that a horrifying tragedy has been transformed into this misguided prosecution.” “We shall defend ourselves in court against any charges brought against us.”
Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film’s armorer, is scheduled to stand trial on February 21 on charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. Inadvertently, Gutierrez Reed inserted a live bullet into Baldwin’s gun, which was intended to hold dummy ammunition only. The manner in which real rounds became entangled with dummy rounds on the set is still unknown.
Shortly after the shooting, Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, initiated legal proceedings for wrongful death. However, a settlement was achieved in October 2022. The settlement allocated a proportion of the film’s earnings and insurance proceeds to the couple’s nine-year-old son, who was present at the time of his mother’s death.
Subsequently, further filming in Montana concluded the production, which is presently anticipating distribution.
During the settlement process, Matthew Hutchins expressed his lack of culpability for the gunshot in relation to Baldwin.
Hutchins stated, “I have no desire to participate in recriminations or assign blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin).” “Everyone is in agreement that Halyna’s demise was a heinous accident.” The collaboration between producers and the entertainment industry to honor Halyna’s final work is for which I am extremely appreciative.
However, when Baldwin was initially charged with manslaughter a few months later, Hutchins’ counsel stated that the charges were justified.
“We support the charges, will fully cooperate with this prosecution, and fervently hope the justice system works to protect the public and hold accountable those who break the law,” said the attorney, Brian Panish, in a statement at the time.
The initial prosecutors, Mary Carmack-Altwies and Andrea Reeb, held Baldwin responsible not only for pulling the trigger, but also for a series of management lapses that led to relaxed safety standards on set. However, the New Mexico division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration concluded that Baldwin — though he was a producer on the film — was not in a position of management authority, and was not culpable for the lack of oversight.
David Halls, the first assistant director, entered a not-guilty plea to a misdemeanor firearms charge in March of last year. Six months of unsupervised probation were imposed on him.
