A New Mexico grand jury indicted actor Alec Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter on Rust’s set. The special prosecutors brought the charges forward against Balwin to a Santa Fe grand jury months after a new analysis of the weapon came to light.
During the shooting of Rust, Baldwin was pointing a gun during rehearsal when it suddenly went off. His shot injured director Joel Souza and fatally wounded Halyna Hutchins, who was later pronounced dead. Production was suspended as Baldwin, weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, and safety coordinator David Hall were put on trial.
Though special prosecutors initially dropped Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charges in April due to evidence that the gun was tampered with before the rehearsal, they pivoted their stance, deliberating on refiling the charge after a new analysis revealed more about the weapon.
Baldwin had always maintained that he never pulled the trigger on the gun and only cocked the hammer, but new tests with repaired pieces indicate that it could have only fired if the trigger was squeezed. In an earlier test, the FBI noted that the weapon could have gone off without pulling the trigger if the gun was hit with enough force. As a result, the prosecution representing Hutchins’ family believed they might have a case against Baldwin.
Some people have expressed their reservations regarding the new case and wonder if the analyses are enough to pin Baldwin. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani claimed that the defense team must shift focus from the final test results and prove that “Baldwin had a broader responsibility and legal duty” while handling the weapon. When asked about their defense for Baldwin, his defense team claimed they “look forward to [their] day in court.”
While the proceedings are hidden from the public, there is still much buzz regarding the incident. If found guilty, Baldwin could face serious jail time. All that needs to be proven is whether or not Baldwin treated the set “with…total disregard or indifference for the safety of others.”
The trial date has not been announced yet, though Guttierez-Reed’s trial for involuntary manslaughter and negligence is set to begin in February.
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