The charges against American actor Alec Baldwin, accused of manslaughter after a fatal shooting on the set of the film Rust in 2021, will be dropped, his lawyers assured Thursday, April 20.
“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.
On October 21, 2021, the filming of the film Rust on a ranch in New Mexico took a turn for the worse when Mr. Baldwin pointed a gun that was supposed to contain only blank bullets, but a very real projectile of which had killed the director of the photograph Halyna Hutchins, 42, and injured director Joel Souza. This rare news item had shocked Hollywood and provoked calls to ban firearms on the sets.
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.
Signs of weakness for the prosecution
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 claims that the shot went off accidentally without him 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 fine of $5,000 (about $4,500). Placed under judicial supervision, Mr. Baldwin, who is also a co-producer of Rust, had been authorized to finish the filming of his western, on condition that he refrain from drinking alcohol and using firearms or weapons dangerous.
The prosecution had already shown signs of weakness in this case. In February, the Santa Fe prosecutor decided to drop an aggravating circumstance against Mr. 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.
Possible new lawsuits
The case is not over yet: the two new magistrates must resume the investigation and still have the right to initiate new proceedings.
Like Mr. Baldwin, Rust gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was also charged with manslaughter. According to Variety magazine, justice maintains these lawsuits for the moment. During the initial investigation, the police concluded that she was the one who put the ammunition in the weapon used by Mr. Baldwin, instead of a dummy bullet.
The Armourer’s defense said they expect she will “also be exonerated” at the end of the legal process. In a statement, the lawyers praised the “very diligent and thorough approach” taken by the new prosecutors now in charge of the investigations.
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, however, are still claiming civil damages. Alongside Rust, a documentary about Ms. Hutchins’ life and the end of filming is also to be made.