- The criminal case against Hollywood star Alec Baldwin for the fatal shooting of a camerawoman during a western shoot is to be dropped.
- The responsible special investigators confirmed the closure of the proceedings, but the investigations would continue.
The involuntary manslaughter charge from January will be dropped, said the special prosecutor appointed by the US state of New Mexico. New facts have become known, which are now being investigated. Baldwin could be prosecuted again at a later date, news agencies report.
On Instagram, the star posted a photo with his wife Hilaria Baldwin and thanked her for her support. “I owe everything to this woman,” he said. He also thanked his attorney, Luke Nikas, for his support.
The production company Rust Movie Productions only announced on Tuesday that filming should resume later in the week. The “Rust” producers had already announced in February that shooting for the low-budget western would continue in the spring.
Legend:
The accident happened here in October 2021.
Keystone/Jae C Hong
Hutchins’ widower Matthew Hutchins will be involved as a producer. That was part of an out-of-court settlement last February, in exchange for which he withdrew his civil suit.
Baldwin escapes possible prison time
Baldwin accidentally shot and killed 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a revolver during a rehearsal for the low-budget western Rust in October 2021. The Colt 45 was loaded with a real bullet, but it is still unclear how this could have happened. Baldwin was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter. If convicted, he faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Baldwin, known for films such as “The Hunt for Red October” and “The Temptation of Blondes” and the series “30 Rock”, has denied any responsibility for Hutchins’ death. He claims he had no way of knowing there was live ammunition in the Colt. The US actor, who is one of the producers of “Rust”, had previously been handed the weapon with the words that it was “cold” – i.e. not loaded with live ammunition.