"Rust" process begins - What could Alec Baldwin be facing?
On this Tuesday (9th of July), Hollywood star Alec Baldwin (66) is scheduled to appear before a court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the US state, to account for the accident on the set of his Low-Budget Western "Rust." Halyna Hutchins (1979-2021), the cinematographer, was fatally injured in the incident. Alec Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of the film, held the weapon from which the fatal shot was fired. Baldwin pleads not guilty and denies pulling the trigger. However, an independent report concluded that the shot could only have been fired by pulling the trigger.
The Incident
The fatal shot that hit Halyna Hutchins occurred in October 2021 during filming for Baldwin's Low-Budget Western "Rust" in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The director Joel Souza (51) was also slightly injured by the bullet. Alec Baldwin, the main actor and co-producer of the film, was holding the gun when the fatal shot was fired. Baldwin claims he did not pull the trigger and is pleading not guilty. However, an independent report concluded that the shot could only have been fired by pulling the trigger.
The Charges
Initial charges against him were filed in April 2022. At that time, the investigating authority stated that they reserved the right to charge him again if new facts emerged.
Baldwin was officially charged on January 31, 2023, in two cases. The first charge was involuntary manslaughter, with a possible maximum sentence of 18 months in prison. The second charge was also for involuntary manslaughter, but in connection with firearm handling, which could result in up to five years in prison. The second charge was later dropped.
In April 2023, the charges against Baldwin were dropped, citing "new facts in the case." "We will therefore withdraw the involuntary manslaughter charge against Mr. Baldwin to conduct further investigations," the prosecution stated. The charge could be reinstated.
A grand jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico, indicted Baldwin on January 19, 2024. Baldwin attempted to dismiss the charges twice. In the second petition, it was again stated that Baldwin and all other actors on the set were allegedly assured that all weapons were loaded with blank cartridges.
A Verdict
The weapons armorer for the film, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was already found guilty in March 2024 of negligence in her set supervision. She was sentenced to 18 months of probation. Gutierrez-Reed was ordered to testify in Baldwin's trial but invoked her right to remain silent during her pre-trial interrogation in May. It is unclear if she will testify if called as a witness.
According to "NBC News," it is expected that David Halls, the assistant director who gave Baldwin the loaded gun and was sentenced to six months of probation in March 2023, will testify. The court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, argued during Halls' sentencing that he had shown "negligence in handling a deadly weapon." Halls confessed his guilt before the sentence was passed.
On Tuesday, the selection of jurors begins now for Baldwin's trial. It's not determined yet if the actor will testify. The trial is expected to last a total of two weeks. The actor faces up to 18 months in prison if found guilty.
- The "Rust" process in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was focused on resuming production after the incident, with a new team in place, including a new weapons armorer replacing Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.
- During the court proceedings, Alec Baldwin's defense team argued that the focus should be on the responsibility of those handling and maintaining the weapons on set, not just Baldwin.
- In an interview prior to the trial, Alec Baldwin expressed his focus on the importance of ensuring such an incident never happens again in the film industry.
- In the wake of the incident, there has been a renewed focus on safety procedures and gun control measures on film sets throughout the industry, with New Mexico passing new regulations for on-set firearms.
