Twelve days after a first announcement, the American actor Alec Baldwin, author of a fatal shooting on the set of the film Rust in 2021, was formally charged with manslaughter and faces up to five years in prison if convicted of aggravated negligence, New Mexico Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack announced Tuesday (January 31). Altwies. The film’s gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who had handled the weapon, is targeted by the same charge, said the prosecutor. “No one is above the law and justice will be served”she insisted in a press release.
On October 21, 2021, this shooting on a ranch in New Mexico had turned tragic when Alec Baldwin had activated a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets, but whose very real projectile had killed the director of photography Halyna Hutchins, 42 years old, and injured director Joel Souza. This rare news item had shocked Hollywood and had a strong impact, triggering calls to ban firearms on the sets, where the presence of live ammunition is in theory already prohibited.
If convicted of simple manslaughter, Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed risk up to 18 months in prison. But this sentence could be increased to a maximum of five years in prison in the event of aggravated negligence. The prosecutor announced her intention to prosecute on January 19. The actor’s lawyer, Luke Nikas, then denounced a “terrible miscarriage of justice”. “Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe that a live ammunition was in the gun, or anywhere else at the shooting location”he insisted.
Volley of civil lawsuits
Alec Baldwin, 64, best known for the series 30Rock, always said that he had been assured that his weapon was harmless. Assistant director David Halls, who had given him the weapon, informing him that it was not dangerous, will be accused of negligence when using a deadly weapon. Lawsuits he chose not to contest. Mr Baldwin also denies pulling the trigger, a claim that many experts doubt.
In August, the actor said he expected no one to be charged, telling CNN that he had hired a private detective to establish responsibilities in the case. The tragedy gave rise to a flurry of civil lawsuits from several members of the team. In October, Alec Baldwin announced that he had reached an agreement ending the civil lawsuits brought by the family of Mme Hutchins. Its amount was not disclosed.
At the time, the resumption of filming of Rust had also been announced for early 2023. The late cinematographer’s widower, Matthew Hutchins, is to be promoted to executive producer on the film.