All criminal charges actor Alec Baldwin had been facing over the death of Halyna Hutchins have been dropped.
Hutchins, a cinematographer, was fatally shot in October 2021 when a gun Baldwin had been holding on the set of the film Rust was fired.
Prosecutors in Santa Fe consequently charged Baldwin with two involuntary manslaughter charges, with Santa Fe's District Attorney's Office accusing the actor at the time of 'many instances of extremely reckless acts'.
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Three months after the criminal charges were first filed, it was announced today (20 April) that they would be dropped.
Baldwin's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, praised the decision in a statement on the matter.
"We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident," they said.
Nikas had previously voiced his disagreement over the involuntary manslaughter charges, saying: “This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set.
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"He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win.”
Baldwin and the producers of Rust are still facing at least five ongoing civil cases, and prosecutors in Santa Fe are pressing forward with involuntary manslaughter charges against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was the weapons supervisor hired to work on Rust.
Gutierrez-Reed has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Earlier this month, Baldwin asked that a judge dismiss a lawsuit filed by Hutchins' parents and sister as he claimed they were trying to 'obtain compensation'.
The lawsuit alleges battery, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
It also cites as well a loss of consortium, meaning the family are aiming to recover compensation for damages to relationships they were mutually dependent on.
Baldwin has denied any wrongdoing in the death of Hutchins.
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Following her death, the actor said there were 'no words to convey [his] shock and sadness'.
He described Hutchins as a 'a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague', adding: “I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”
Topics: Film and TV, Alec Baldwin
Emily Brown