Oscar nominated actor, Alec Baldwin, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the shooting of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on the film set of Rust when the actor fired a prop gun, which was loaded with live ammunition.
The actor’s attorney, Luke Nikas, has spoken out after New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies charged Baldwin. “This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice.” said Baldwin’s attorney.
“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set.” he said, adding that his client relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him that the gun did not have live rounds.
“We will fight these charges, and we will win,” he added.
Carmack-Altwies told BBC that Baldwin did not do any of the things he was supposed to do to make sure people around him were safe, adding that the actor, Alec Baldwin, was negligent. “They didn’t exercise due caution,” she said.
“An actor doesn’t get a free pass just because they’re an actor,” the prosecutor said, adding that Baldwin was being charged as both, an actor and a producer on Rust.
Furthermore, the Rust armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is also being charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
“Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident. But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter,” said Gutierrez-Reed lawyer, Jason Bowles. “These charges are the result of a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts. We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe Hannah will be exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury.”
Under the first charge of involuntary manslaughter, both, Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, could face an 18-month jail sentence and $5,000 fine in the state of New Mexico. Meanwhile, the second charge of involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act requires proof that there was more than simple negligence involved in a death.
This charge is also a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Furthermore, the Assistant Director, David Hall, who had informed Baldwin that prop gun being used was a “cold gun”, signed a plea agreement for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. The terms include a suspended sentence and six months of probation.
Read more: Alec Baldwin shoots prop gun, killing cinematographer on set of ‘Rust’.
