Despite prosecutors in April stating they would drop charges, new involuntary manslaughter claims have been made against Alec Baldwin for his alleged culpability in the Rust shooting. The prosecutors refiled these charges due to new evidence coming to light after another investigation.
Special Prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis have stated in the past that they would not fully settle on the charges being dropped and promised to refile them if new evidence has come to light. Additionally, they claimed earlier this month that the Rust producers and Baldwin allegedly blocked their investigations into the incident. Because of this and newer evidence, they believe the most appropriate action would be to “permit a panel of New Mexico citizens to determine from here whether Mr. Baldwin should be held over for criminal trial.”
Defense attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro have continued to deny his alleged culpability and to push the idea that Baldwin did not pull the trigger. They called the situation “a terrible tragedy [that] has been turned into this misguided prosecution.” They have proclaimed their willingness to continue fighting for the actor despite multiple experts claiming Baldwin allegedly could have had his finger on the trigger.
Both the FBI and independent weapons experts have put forward their beliefs that Baldwin had allegedly pulled the trigger on his 1873 replica revolver. Lucien and Michael Haag’s report states, “Given the tests, findings, and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.” Despite this, Balwin and his defense team have continued proclaiming their former’s innocence.
Like Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed had claimed not guilty when charged with involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. However, unlike the actor, Reed will face these charges on her official trial date in February if Baldwin is not recharged. If Reed is found not guilty, she will face a maximum of 18 months and a $5,000 fine.
The Rust crew had finished filming in Montana this spring despite Reed’s dismissal. Currently, it is looking for international buyers for future distribution, meaning its release could coincide with these trials.
There is no word as to whether or not the film will be affected by the charges or if its release will be withheld until the trials’ conclusions.
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