Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin faces indictment by a grand jury in New Mexico for involuntary manslaughter, as prosecutors aim to hold him responsible for the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust”.
In January 2023, Baldwin, 65, was initially charged in the case.
However, the charges were ultimately dropped three months later, as Baldwin’s defence team raised concerns regarding the functionality of his Colt.45 at the time of the incident.
In October 2021, during the filming of a scene at a ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, the tragic incident occurred where the gun went off while Hutchins was preparing to film with Baldwin.
Baldwin, who had a dual role as the star and producer of “Rust,” has consistently denied any responsibility for the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
He maintains that he was informed the gun did not have live rounds and that there should not have been any live ammunition present on the set.
The actor has consistently denied being responsible for the gun firing, despite a forensic report commissioned by the prosecution concluding that he must have pulled the trigger.
This finding played a role in the decision to reopen the criminal case.
Baldwin could potentially face up to 18 months in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter in New Mexico.
“We look forward to our day in court,” said Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, in a statement on Friday as reported by the New York Times.
Variety reports that Matthew Hutchins, the widower of Hutchins, pursued legal action following the tragic incident and ultimately reached a settlement in October 2022.
The settlement ensured that the couple’s son, who was 9 years old at the time of his mother’s death, would receive financial support through insurance funds and a share of the film’s profits.
The film has since been completed and is awaiting distribution.
