Alec Baldwin is not yet finished with the Rust case: there will be additional investigation into the gun with which Halyna Hutchins was shot.
Last month, Alec Baldwin was cleared of charges in the case of the fatal shooting on the film’s set Rust. Baldwin wielded a gun in October 2021 that should have been safe. It went off, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed, another collaborator on the film was injured.
Baldwin was then charged with involuntary manslaughter. Because he is not only a leading actor but also a producer of the western, he was also responsible for safety on the set. His defense rested on two pillars: the gun fired before he pulled the trigger, and it had to be filled with blanks.
Prosecutors in New Mexico cleared him of charges in April over evidence that the gun had been machined, allowing it to go off unintentionally. After the verdict, the shooting of the film started again. The set did move from New Mexico to Montana.
But now prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis are asking for additional investigation into the gun. They have appointed independent expert Lucien Haag to check whether notches have been filed in the gun, making it more difficult to check whether the weapon is half cocked – and therefore safe – or fully cocked. Haag should also examine the other weapons used on set for such modifications. And the ammunition found on set, because that included real cartridges.
This indicates that prosecutors are still considering reopening the criminal case against the actor. The case against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the master of arms on the set, is still pending. Her lawyer Jason Bowles said he was happy with additional research, especially into the origin of the real patterns. His client will plead not guilty.
2023-05-18 17:10:14
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