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Tag: Rust

  • Alec Baldwin Says He Had Suicidal Thoughts After Charges Were Filed in ‘Rust’ Death a Second Time

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    Alec Baldwin says he had suicidal thoughts after charges were filed a second time in the fatal shooting on the set of his film Rust.

    The actor appeared on the most recent episode of Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction, a podcast hosted by Dave Manheim, where he talked about battling some dark thoughts during that time.
    Baldwin said he was in a rough place mentally after it was announced that he was going to be charged a second time in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust in 2021. (The case was ultimately dismissed, and he cannot be retried.) Baldwin said he was concerned about the impact it was having on his family.

    “The people I was most concerned about, the people that I had the deepest pain for, were my wife and my kids,” he said. “Because my kids would see me sitting in a corner, you know, I couldn’t even move.”

    Baldwin said there was a period where he took a nap every day for a year due to his mental state.

    “And I don’t want to dwell on this, I just want to say that this was very painful for my wife and my family, my sisters and brothers and so forth, my colleagues. … And I can tell you, it broke every nerve in my body, spiritually, financially … work-wise, my career, my wife, my kids, my friends, my health. I mean what it’s done to my health. I mean, if I told you what my health conditions have been since October 21st of 2021 … it’s taken 10 years off my life. It’s taken at least 10 years off my life,” he added, noting the date of the fatal shooting.

    Baldwin said he was able to get through it thanks to his wife, Hilaria, and his family, but not before some really dark thoughts took over.

    “When you get to that point where you go, ‘I don’t want to wake up another day, I’m gonna go’ — I swear to God, I mean, to talk about it, and it’s really kind of unappealing to me because to talk about killing yourself and to actually kill yourself are two so profoundly distinctive things. I think a lot of people, I think countless people think about killing themselves and ending their life, and then very few do. And for me, I remember, I used to lay there in bed and go, ‘Oh God, I can’t wake up another day and have it be the same. It’s the same every day. And I can’t do it.’ And but somehow I found the faith in God to, you know, not kill myself tomorrow. Let’s wait one more day.”

    Baldwin also said that he believes that the production followed the regulations laid out by the Hollywood guilds but the prosecutors in New Mexico “came along and said, ‘Oh no, no, those rules don’t apply here, and we have our own rules here and that’s what applies here. So we’re going to put you on trial for those rules.’ … No one came to me in the first week we were handling firearms the first week. No one came and told me anything different. It was after the fact. All the rules were changed after the fact, and that was very scary to me. I thought they were going to make it up as they go along.”

    He added that the New Mexico prosecutors “wanted to get their names in the paper. That’s what they wanted. And I mean thank God for this judge who called in on them and said, you know, what you’re doing is reprehensible.”

    In the same interview, the subject turned to President Trump, whom Baldwin portrayed on Saturday Night Live for four years. Baldwin admitted that he didn’t “want to play Trump every weekend for four years” but did it due to his friendship with SNL mastermind Lorne Michaels.

    “Overall, it was a good experience. Those first two years were glorious, and but you look at people who are made fun of on SNL. Comedy is all about mockery now. It’s all about mockery,” he said, noting that very few comedians aren’t “mean-spirited,” citing Ray Romano as one example. But, he said, much comedy these days veers toward being “negative.”

    “But you look at Trump. And you say to yourself, Trump’s a human being,” Baldwin said. “Now, do I disagree with Trump about everything? I disagree with Trump about fucking everything. Every fucking thing you could imagine I disagree with him. But at the same time, he’s a human being, and his mistake was when he was wounded, when he was hurt, when he was dismissed, when he was mocked, when he was outed or whatever, in any way he was treated badly, what was his response? What was his response? And that’s the lesson for all of us. What’s your response? Do you just try to get up and clean yourself off and move forward? No, Trump is bitter. He’s filled with hatred. He’s filled with bile, and he only made it worse for himself. 

    “I mean, Trump is a person who thought, ‘All of you have a problem. All of you making those observations about me, you’re the ones that are wrong. I don’t deserve any of this.’ Trump doesn’t believe he deserves any of what’s been ladled out against him. Now, has he been mistreated in some way or has it been too much of a pile on. Maybe, I don’t know. I mean, I think Trump, occupies a very unique place in our history, but at the same time, I think that you gotta walk that line. Trump’s a human being.”

    Baldwin recalled being at a dinner party and sharing his believe that comedy about Trump is “over” — not because it’s scary, but because “it’s just done.”

    “What else can you possibly say? If you’re still watching a nighttime talk show and laughing at jokes about Trump, there’s something wrong with you,” Baldwin said. “Al we need to do is just get ready for the next election, get ready for the midterms. That’s all you need to focus on. Fuck Trump. He’s gonna be gone. … And Trump, had he only had one ounce of self-awareness, how different things might have been.”

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    Kimberly Nordyke

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  • Ben Bohmer Blooms To Life In New Album

    Ben Bohmer Blooms To Life In New Album

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    In a world filled with dance music, it’s hard to stand out. However, what’s so special about Ben Bohmer is that his music sets him apart without him seeming to be trying. By blending house beats and sensational dance sounds into mesmerizing tracks, often featuring hot collaborations, Bohmer has established himself as a dynamo in the industry.

    As his third album, Bloom, is released for the world to hear, we can see how Bohmer continues to push himself as a producer and creator of music. He has those classic collabs with artists like Lykke Li and Oh Wonder, which play to the listener’s emotions and transports them to a completely different realm…one that’s calm, groovy, and completely Ben Bohmer.

    He’s not afraid to blend genres to forge music that’s fully his own, and that’s exactly what Bloom showcases. By combining indie and ambient sounds with his classic dance tracks that just make perfect sense, Bloom does a terrific job of transcending any specific genre. You can listen to the album here:

    After taking a much-needed break post-COVID, Bohmer looked at Bloom with fresh eyes. It’s viewedas a full reset for him, something he hadn’t done with his music in a long time. Now, as the album is finally here, fans and new listeners alike can enjoy Ben Bohmer’s new body of work knowing it’s authentic to himself as an artist and person.

    With so much on the horizon for Bohmer, it’s hard not to be excited for what comes next. We spoke to him about his new album and what’s next…check it out below!

    PD: Your new single “Rust” marks a return to the dreamy, melodic house sound that your fans love. How does this track reflect your evolution and artistic journey since your previous albums?

    “Rust” has deep roots in my earlier albums, and even traces back to a time before those albums. It’s one of the few tracks on the album that carries that “old vibe.” What’s new, however, is my love for classic songwriting, even though the song structure is quite unconventional.

    PD: When creating your new single, “Faithless,” what was the inspiration?

    My friend Anna Leyne, who I’ve often collaborated with, sent me a demo of the chorus for “Faithless.” I was immediately captivated and wrote a new instrumental, then finished the song with Erin Le Count.

    PD: With “Rust,” “Faithless,” “Hiding,” and “Best Life,” you’ve showcased a range of sounds and collaborations. Can you discuss the creative process behind these tracks and how they fit into the broader concept of your upcoming album, Bloom?

    I have a deep love for dance music, ambient music, and indie music. With this album, I’ve taken a step further by blending these genres. This album has given me the freedom to fully express myself and let all these diverse influences bloom. Collaborating with artists from the indie world has been a significant part of this journey.

    PD: The new album, Bloom, is described as a reset for you. What prompted this desire to reset, and how does Bloom differ from your previous works in terms of theme and musical direction?

    After extensive touring and countless shows in the post-COVID years, I found myself physically, mentally, and musically drained. I had to take a long pause, retreat into nature, and focus on doing what I genuinely enjoyed. That really inspired this Album.

    PD: Your collaboration with Lykke Li on “Hiding” and with JONAH on “Best Life” have been a highlight of this year. What do you look for in a collaborator, and how have these collaborations added to your album as a whole?

    It’s crucial for me to be on the same musical wavelength with my collaborators. In any collaboration, it’s important that everyone involved is passionate and excited about writing the song. Musically, I find contrasts intriguing, which is why I enjoy working with indie acts.

    PD: With a sold-out Australian tour and major fall shows in Europe on the horizon, how do you approach preparing for and performing at such large-scale events?

    I’m really excited to expand my live set and bring a piano on stage. The piano has always been an important foundation and companion in the studio, and now it will be a permanent part of the live show. The festival season has also been great for preparing for these shows

    PD: As someone who has achieved significant success in the electronic music scene, what advice would you give to emerging artists trying to make their mark in the industry today?

    Authenticity, fun, and an unstoppable love for music might bring you far.

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter case dismissed in middle of trial – National | Globalnews.ca

    Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter case dismissed in middle of trial – National | Globalnews.ca

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    A New Mexico judge on Friday brought a sudden and stunning end to the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin, dismissing it in the middle of the actor’s trial and saying it cannot be filed again.

    Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case with prejudice based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of evidence from the defense in the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.”

    Baldwin cried, hugged his two attorneys, gestured to the front of the court, then turned to hug his crying wife Hilaria, holding the embrace for 12 seconds. He climbed into an SUV outside the Santa Fe courthouse without speaking to media.

    “The late discovery of this evidence during trial has impeded the effective use of evidence in such a way that it has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings,” Marlowe Sommer said. “If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith it certainly comes so near to bad faith to show signs of scorching.”

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    The evidence that sank the case, revealed during the trial’s second day of testimony Thursday, was the existence of ammunition that was brought into the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins’ killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammo unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin’s lawyers alleged they “buried” it. The defense filed one of many motions they had made to dismiss the case over evidence issues. All the others were rejected. But this one took.


    Click to play video: '‘Rust’ armorer convicted of involuntary manslaughter in fatal movie set shooting'


    ‘Rust’ armorer convicted of involuntary manslaughter in fatal movie set shooting


    The judge’s decision ends the criminal culpability of the 66-year-old Baldwin after a nearly three-year saga that began when a revolver he was pointing at Hutchins during a rehearsal went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.


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    “Our goal from the beginning was to seek justice for Halyna Hutchins, and we fought to get this case tried on its merits,” District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said in a statement. “We are disappointed that the case did not get to the jury.”

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    The career of the “Hunt for Red October” and “30 Rock” star and frequent “Saturday Night Live” host — who has been a household name for more than three decades — had been put into doubt, and he could have gotten 18 months in prison if convicted.

    Baldwin and other producers still face civil lawsuits from Hutchins’ parents and sister.

    Prosecutors did get one conviction for Hutchins’ death. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on an involuntary manslaughter conviction, which she is now appealing.

    Her attorney Jason Bowles said Friday that he would be filing a motion to dismiss his client’s case as well.

    “The judge upheld the integrity of the system in dismissing the case,” he told The Associated Press in an email.

    Marlowe Sommer put a pause on the trial earlier Friday and sent the jury home for the weekend so she could spend the day hearing testimony and arguments on the motion to dismiss.

    Troy Teske, a retired police officer and a close friend of Gutierrez-Reed’s father Thell Reed who is a gun coach and armorer on movies, was the person who brought the ammunition into the sheriff’s office in March on the same day the guilty verdict in her case was read.

    Teske and the ammo he said might be relevant had been known to authorities since a few weeks after the shooting, and special prosecutor Kari Morrissey had met with him last year, but they determined it was not relevant.

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    The evidence was collected but crucially was not put into the same file as the rest of the “Rust” case, and was not presented to Baldwin’s defense team when they examined the ballistics evidence in April. The defense would argue that they should have had a chance to weigh in on the evidence’s importance, and that the prosecution “buried” it.

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    The issue came up during the defense questioning Thursday of sheriff’s crime scene technician Marissa Poppell, who acknowledged receiving the ammo, a moment that the judge watched on a police supervisor’s body camera on Friday.

    Morrissey argued that the emergence of the ammunition was part of an attempt by Reed to shift blame away from his daughter.

    “This is a wild goose chase that has no evidentiary value whatsoever,” Morrissey told the judge during the hearing. “This is just a man trying to protect his daughter.”


    Click to play video: 'Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ shooting trial begins in New Mexico'


    Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ shooting trial begins in New Mexico


    The case’s other special prosecutor, Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, resigned from the case earlier Friday. Baldwin attorney Alex Spiro asked whether she had resigned based on the evidence issues being discussed. Morrissey said she believed it was over the holding of the public hearing itself.

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    Speaking outside the courthouse doors, Morrissey said she respects the judge’s decision but that there was no reason to believe the undisclosed evidence in question was related to the set of “Rust.”

    The trial had barely begun when it was brought to a close. Prosecutors had only started to make their case, and none of the eyewitnesses from the set had testified yet.

    Baldwin’s younger brother Stephen Baldwin and older sister Elizabeth Keuchler, both actors themselves, sat behind him in the gallery next to his wife each day of the trial, which was streamed live by AP and Court TV. Reporters from both coasts filled the small courtroom, and had stations outside for arrivals and departures of trial players.

    The judge dealt a serious blow to the prosecution’s case when on the eve of the trial on Monday when she ruled that Baldwin’s role as a producer on the film was not relevant and had to be left out.

    Still, prosecutors forged ahead, painting Baldwin in their openings as a reckless performer who “played make-believe” while flouting basic gun safety rules.

    Baldwin’s attorney Spiro argued that he did only what actors always do on the “Rust” set, and that the necessary safety steps must be taken before a gun reaches a performer’s hand.

    –Dalton reported from Los Angeles.

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  • Alec Baldwin’s recklessness led to on-set ‘Rust’ shooting, court hears – National | Globalnews.ca

    Alec Baldwin’s recklessness led to on-set ‘Rust’ shooting, court hears – National | Globalnews.ca

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    As opening statements began Wednesday in the long-awaited Rust trial of Alec Baldwin, prosecutors and defence lawyers tried to paint him in different lights — as a safety-negligent leader, and an innocent actor playing a part.

    Baldwin, 66, is on trial in Santa Fe, N.M., for involuntary manslaughter over the October 2021 on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

    Hutchins, 42, was struck and killed by a single “live round” fired from Baldwin’s gun as he rehearsed in front of a camera. Rust writer and director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident.

    Baldwin and his lawyers have repeatedly insisted the firing was accidental, and that real ammunition should have never been brought onto the set. Regardless, prosecutors said Baldwin was reckless and broke the “cardinal rules of firearm safety.”

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    Baldwin, who has pleaded not guilty, is the star and a co-producer of the western drama Rust. He could face up to 18 months in prison if found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

    “When someone plays make-believe with a real gun in a real-life workplace, and while playing make-believe with that gun, violates the cardinal rules of firearm safety, people’s lives are in danger and someone could be killed,” prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson told the 16-member jury.

    Johnson called the case “simple” and “straightforward.”

    The courtroom was packed with spectators and members of the media, with Baldwin’s wife Hilaria, his brother Stephen, and his older sister Elizabeth Keuchler also seated in the gallery.


    Alec Baldwin speaks with his wife Hilaria Baldwin during his hearing at Santa Fe County District Court on July 10, 2024, in Santa Fe, N.M.

    Ross D. Franklin – Pool/Getty Images

    When it came time for the defence to give opening statements, lawyer Alex Spiro argued a gun must be safe before it reaches an actor’s hand on a film or TV set.

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    Baldwin’s lawyers will try to convince the jury that the blame for Hutchins’ death lies elsewhere, specifically with the person who brought real bullets to the production and the person who handed the loaded weapon to Baldwin.


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    “The actor’s job is to act, to rehearse, to choreograph his moves, to memorize his lines,” Spiro said. “Alec Baldwin committed no crime; he was an actor, acting.”

    “No one saw him intentionally pull the trigger.”

    Spiro maintained that even if Baldwin had pulled the trigger, he still should not be convicted of manslaughter.

    “On a movie set, you’re allowed to pull that trigger,” Spiro said. “That doesn’t make it a homicide.”

    He said other people on set — namely the film’s already convicted armourer and the first assistant director — are responsible for ensuring weapon safety.

    Prosecutors disagree. They claim Baldwin was negligent and failed to complete a safety check of the Colt .45, while also leaving his finger on the hammer and trigger as he pointed the weapon at people behind the camera.


    An image of Actor Alec Baldwin is shown on a screen during his trial in Santa Fe County District Court, July 10, 2024, in Santa Fe, n.m.

    Ross D. Franklin / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

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    Baldwin has said the firearm malfunctioned and he did not pull the trigger. He’s also alleged he did not know the weapon contained live ammunition.

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    Witness testimony began on Wednesday, with police officer Nicholas LeFleur first to take the stand. He responded to the initial emergency call and was the earliest officer to the scene.

    The jury was shown LeFleur’s bodycam footage from the incident, which showed first responders rushing to treat Hutchins and Souza after the shooting.


    Law enforcement officer Nicholas LeFleur testifies during actor Alec Baldwin’s hearing at Santa Fe County District Court on July 10, 2024, in Santa Fe, N.M.

    Ross D. Franklin – Pool/Getty Images

    Souza, who was shot in the shoulder, is heard screaming in pain.

    Hutchins was shot under her right arm and the bullet perforated her right lung before also lacerating her spinal cord. In the bodycam footage, she lies on the floor surrounded by paramedics. She died later that day, though Souza would survive.

    Later in the video, LeFleur can be seen telling Baldwin not to speak to the other potential witnesses, but Baldwin repeatedly does.

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    The trial’s second witness, former sheriff’s Lt. Tim Benavidez, said he collected the revolver after the shooting. He acknowledged that he was careful with the Colt .45 for safety reasons but did not wear gloves or take meticulous forensic precautions as he might be done for a homicide investigation.

    Baldwin was indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in January. He’d a year earlier been charged with the same offence, though it was dropped as prosecutors continued to examine evidence.

    In March, Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to serve an 18-month prison sentence. Prosecutors said at an earlier trial that Gutierrez-Reed unknowingly brought live ammunition onto the Rust ranch set and claimed the rounds lingered for at least 12 days until the fatal shooting.

    Rust’s assistant director, Dave Halls, pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon in exchange for his testimony.

    Gutierrez-Reed told the court she verified the gun fired by Baldwin was loaded with dummy rounds before she passed it off to Halls, who gave it to the actor.

    — with files from The Associated Press 

    &copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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    Sarah Do Couto

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  • Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial begins with jury selection

    Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial begins with jury selection

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    Alec Baldwin’s trial in the shooting of a cinematographer begins Tuesday with the selection of jurors who will be tasked with deciding whether the actor is guilty of involuntary manslaughter.Getting chosen to serve in a trial of such a major star accused of such a major crime would be unusual even in Los Angeles or Baldwin’s hometown of New York. But it will be essentially an unheard-of experience for those who are picked as jurors in Santa Fe, New Mexico, though in recent years the state has increasingly become a hub of Hollywood production.Baldwin and his wife Hilaria arrived at the courthouse Tuesday with their youngest child, Ilaria Catalina Irena Baldwin. The couple have seven children, ranging in ages from 1 to 10.Baldwin, 66, could get up to 18 months in prison if jurors unanimously decide to convict him. The jurors are tasked with deciding whether Baldwin committed the felony when, during a rehearsal in October 2021, a revolver went off while he was pointing it at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. They were on the set of the Western film “Rust,” at Bonanza Creek Ranch some 18 miles from where the trial is being held.Baldwin has said the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins, who was behind the camera. Unaware that the gun contained a live round, Baldwin said he pulled back the hammer — not the trigger — and it fired.The star of “30 Rock” and “The Hunt for Red October” made his first appearance in the courtroom on Monday, when Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, in a significant victory for the defense, ruled at a pretrial hearing that Baldwin’s role as a co-producer on “Rust” isn’t relevant to the trial.On Tuesday, 79 people will be questioned and narrowed down. “It’s a process where both sides get to ask really specific questions of jurors,” John Day, a legal expert with sister station KOAT, said.He added, questions will come after some extensive research by both the prosecution and the defense.”Like, looked up their social media posts to see if they’ve said anything about this trial, or about guns in general, or Alec Baldwin in particular,” Day said.Candidates will also be grouped up in a 50-minute selection to ensure a faster process. Something that differed from Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s trial. Twelve jurors and four alternates were selected in her case.”They were feeling pretty strongly that she had one job, and she didn’t do it,” Day said. “Her job was to make sure that there was no live ammunition on the set and that the guns didn’t have anything that was going to hurt someone.”That means finding the perfect juror will be key in a limited amount of time. “The ultimate juror is someone who can say, ‘I might know about the case, but I don’t have an opinion,’” Day said.However, certain ideas may be favored.For the prosecutions, the team will be looking closely at gun safety.”You’re going to want people on the jury who are familiar with gun safety issues, right?” Day said. “Who knows about gun safety, and who is going to be skeptical of somebody pointing a gun at someone without knowing what’s in it.”As for the defense, attorneys will closely look at movie set protocols.”You’re going to want people who would agree that a film is not like real life,” he said. “That if you’re an actor on a film set and someone hands you a gun and says it’s safe, there’s no reason to think otherwise.”But each side can only reject a certain number of potential jurors. “People that can kick off or they can say, ‘we’re not going to take that person for this reason,’” Day said. “It’s a process of narrowing down a large pool into a much smaller pool of jurors and alternates.”Jury selection will begin Tuesday morning at the Santa Fe County Courthouse. Opening statements are expected Wednesday.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    SANTA FE, N.M. —

    Alec Baldwin’s trial in the shooting of a cinematographer begins Tuesday with the selection of jurors who will be tasked with deciding whether the actor is guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

    Getting chosen to serve in a trial of such a major star accused of such a major crime would be unusual even in Los Angeles or Baldwin’s hometown of New York. But it will be essentially an unheard-of experience for those who are picked as jurors in Santa Fe, New Mexico, though in recent years the state has increasingly become a hub of Hollywood production.

    Baldwin and his wife Hilaria arrived at the courthouse Tuesday with their youngest child, Ilaria Catalina Irena Baldwin. The couple have seven children, ranging in ages from 1 to 10.

    Baldwin, 66, could get up to 18 months in prison if jurors unanimously decide to convict him. The jurors are tasked with deciding whether Baldwin committed the felony when, during a rehearsal in October 2021, a revolver went off while he was pointing it at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. They were on the set of the Western film “Rust,” at Bonanza Creek Ranch some 18 miles from where the trial is being held.

    Baldwin has said the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins, who was behind the camera. Unaware that the gun contained a live round, Baldwin said he pulled back the hammer — not the trigger — and it fired.

    The star of “30 Rock” and “The Hunt for Red October” made his first appearance in the courtroom on Monday, when Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, in a significant victory for the defense, ruled at a pretrial hearing that Baldwin’s role as a co-producer on “Rust” isn’t relevant to the trial.

    On Tuesday, 79 people will be questioned and narrowed down.

    “It’s a process where both sides get to ask really specific questions of jurors,” John Day, a legal expert with sister station KOAT, said.

    He added, questions will come after some extensive research by both the prosecution and the defense.

    “Like, [they may have] looked up their social media posts to see if they’ve said anything about this trial, or about guns in general, or Alec Baldwin in particular,” Day said.

    Candidates will also be grouped up in a 50-minute selection to ensure a faster process.

    Something that differed from Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s trial. Twelve jurors and four alternates were selected in her case.

    “They were feeling pretty strongly that she had one job, and she didn’t do it,” Day said. “Her job was to make sure that there was no live ammunition on the set and that the guns didn’t have anything that was going to hurt someone.”

    That means finding the perfect juror will be key in a limited amount of time.

    “The ultimate juror is someone who can say, ‘I might know about the case, but I don’t have an opinion,’” Day said.

    However, certain ideas may be favored.

    For the prosecutions, the team will be looking closely at gun safety.

    “You’re going to want people on the jury who are familiar with gun safety issues, right?” Day said. “Who knows about gun safety, and who is going to be skeptical of somebody pointing a gun at someone without knowing what’s in it.”

    As for the defense, attorneys will closely look at movie set protocols.

    “You’re going to want people who would agree that a film is not like real life,” he said. “That if you’re an actor on a film set and someone hands you a gun and says it’s safe, there’s no reason to think otherwise.”

    But each side can only reject a certain number of potential jurors.

    “People that [the teams] can kick off or [that] they can say, ‘we’re not going to take that person for this reason,’” Day said. “It’s a process of narrowing down a large pool into a much smaller pool of jurors and alternates.”

    Jury selection will begin Tuesday morning at the Santa Fe County Courthouse. Opening statements are expected Wednesday.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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  • Alec Baldwin Was Reckless With Guns Before ‘Rust’ Shooting, Prosecutors Allege

    Alec Baldwin Was Reckless With Guns Before ‘Rust’ Shooting, Prosecutors Allege

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    Prosecutors in the Alec Baldwin trial intend to argue that the actor displayed a pattern of recklessness with firearms on the set of “Rust” before the fatal shooting of the film’s cinematographer.

    In a filing on Monday, prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Erlinda Johnson alleged that Baldwin fired a blank round at a crew member while using the crew member to establish a line of sight. The prosecutors also accuse Baldwin of engaging in “horseplay” with a revolver during training, and allege that he was “erratic and aggressive” during filming, which raised safety concerns.

    Baldwin is set to go on trial on July 9 in Santa Fe, N.M., on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins. The actor is accused of negligently pointing a replica of a vintage Colt revolver at Hutchins and pulling the trigger, causing her death. Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger, and pleaded not guilty.

    In the filing, the prosecution spelled out the “other acts” evidence they intend to introduce to show that Baldwin’s carelessness was not limited to the fatal accident.

    Much of that evidence was made public during the trial in February of Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the “Rust” armorer who loaded a live bullet into Baldwin’s gun, and who is now serving an 18-month sentence.

    The jury in that trial was shown videos of Baldwin pointing his revolver in the general direction of the crew to direct them on where to position themselves, and firing a blank round after “cut” was yelled.

    In another video, he could be seen rushing the crew to reload in order to quickly do another take. Another video showed Baldwin with his finger on the trigger of his revolver, in apparent violation of industry rules. Prosecutors also allege that in some videos, Baldwin would cock and un-cock his gun for no reason.

    Prosecutors have previously alleged that Baldwin’s hot-headed behavior on set contributed to lapses in safety protocols.

    The new filing also alleges that Baldwin insisted on not being held to industry safety standards when filming resumed on “Rust” in Montana some 18 months after the fatal shooting.

    With the filing, the prosecution put the defense on notice of the evidence it intends to introduce, which gives the defense an opportunity to object. The prosecutors argue that the evidence is admissible, either as “intrinsic” evidence of the crime, or as “other acts” evidence that is relevant to a material issue in the case.

    Such evidence would be inadmissible if it only underscored Baldwin’s character, without shedding light on anything material to the alleged crime. In an earlier filing, Morrissey referenced a “long history” of aggressive behavior on Baldwin’s part going back to 2007, including punching a man in a fight over a parking space and allegedly assaulting a photographer. The prosecutor has also stated that such episodes have “nothing to do” with the Hutchins case, and she is not seeking in the filing to raise them at trial.

    Baldwin’s attorneys declined to comment.

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    Gmaddaus

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  • Alec Baldwin’s request to dismiss criminal charge in fatal ‘Rust’ shooting rejected by judge

    Alec Baldwin’s request to dismiss criminal charge in fatal ‘Rust’ shooting rejected by judge

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    A New Mexico judge has rejected a request by Alec Baldwin to dismiss the sole criminal charge against him in a fatal shooting on the set of “Rust,” keeping the case on track for a trial this summer.Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Friday upheld an indictment charging Baldwin with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. The judge rejected defense arguments that prosecutors flouted the rules of grand jury proceedings to divert attention away from exculpatory evidence and witnesses.Special prosecutors have denied the accusations and said Baldwin made “shameless” attempts to escape culpability, highlighting contradictions in his statements to law enforcement, to workplace safety regulators and in a televised interview.Friday’s decision removes one of the last hurdles for prosecutors to put Baldwin on trial in July.The indictment in January charged Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, at a movie ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe.Baldwin, a lead actor and co-producer on the Western, has pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 1.5 years in prison. His attorneys argued during the virtual hearing on Friday that the grand jury received a one-sided presentation in bad faith from prosecutors who steered jurors away from exculpatory evidence and witnesses.During rehearsal, Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and injuring Joel Souza, the director. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the gun’s hammer, but not the trigger.Baldwin’s motion to dismiss the indictment argued that the grand jury received inaccurate and limited testimony about the revolver and safety protocols on movie sets.Over more than two hours of arguments Friday, defense attorneys for Baldwin accused the special prosecutor of neglecting her responsibilities to ensure impartiality and access to the defense’s witnesses and evidence.“The fix was in,” said defense attorney Alex Spiro. “There were no (defense) witnesses there to testify. There was no evidence binder of the defense exhibits.”“They never intended for the grand jury to ask for witnesses,” he continued. “They never wanted the grand jury to ask for exhibits.”Special prosecutors say they followed grand jury protocols and accuse Baldwin of “shameless” attempts to escape culpability, highlighting contradictions in his statements to law enforcement, to workplace safety regulators and in a televised interview. A jury trial is scheduled for July.Lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey on Friday defended her oversight of the grand jury, noting that she read to jurors a court-approved letter outlining procedures for accessing exculpatory evidence and witnesses and physically pointed at the defense’s boxes of evidence.“The grand jury never asked to hear from witnesses. There is nothing I can do about that,” Morrissey said. “We followed all of the judge’s orders.”Defense attorneys also highlighted that jurors were interrupted when they raised questions about safety procedures on film sets. Baldwin’s attorneys said jurors were guided away from listening to testimony from a sheriff’s detective and instead toward an expert witness paid by the prosecution to discuss film set safety.Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer seized on that point in a series of questions for Morrissey, asking why the detective wasn’t allowed to answer. Morrissey said the detective was well acquainted with the wrong ways to handle gun safety on a movie set from investigating the “Rust” set, but not well versed on proper industry protocols.“I did not prevent the grand jury from getting answers,” Morrissey said. “I made sure the grand jury got the answers to their questions from the witness with the most experience.”Baldwin did not appear at the hearing. Prosecutors have turned their full attention to Baldwin after a judge in April sentenced movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to the maximum of 1.5 years at a state penitentiary on an involuntary manslaughter conviction for Hutchins’ death.Prosecutors last year dismissed an earlier involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin after being told the gun he was holding might have been modified before the shooting and malfunctioned. A new analysis of the gun last year enabled prosecutors to reboot the case.The indictment against Baldwin offers two possible standards for prosecutors to pursue. One would be based on the negligent use of a firearm. An alternative is to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Baldwin caused Hutchins’ death without “due caution” or “circumspection,” also defined as “an act committed with total disregard or indifference for the safety of others.”Defense attorneys also say prosecutors steered the grand jury away from testimony by witnesses including the film’s director, as well as assistant director and safety coordinator Dave Halls and props master Sarah Zachry. Halls last year pleaded no contest to negligent handling of a firearm and completed a sentence of six months of unsupervised probation.The two-week trial of Gutierrez-Reed gave attorneys for Baldwin and the public an unusual window into how the actor’s own trial could unfold.Baldwin figured prominently in testimony and closing arguments that highlighted his authority as a co-producer and the lead actor on “Rust.” Both the prosecution and defense in Gutierrez-Reed’s trial dissected video footage of Baldwin before the fatal shooting for clues about breakdowns in firearms safety.Prosecutors said Gutierrez-Reed unwittingly brought live ammunition onto the set of “Rust,” where it was expressly prohibited and failed to follow basic gun safety protocols.Gutierrez-Reed is appealing the conviction, decided by a jury in March, to a higher court but hasn’t yet filed detailed arguments. At sentencing, Gutierrez-Reed told the judge she tried to do her best on the set despite not having “proper time, resources and staffing.”After the shooting in New Mexico, the filming of “Rust” resumed in Montana, under an agreement with Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, which made him an executive producer. Matthew Hutchins and the Hutchins’ son settled a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court under undisclosed terms.Defense attorneys said Baldwin was offered a deal last year to plead to a “minor offense” before a grand jury was convened, but the offer was “inexplicably retracted” before the deadline to respond.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    SANTA FE, N.M. —

    A New Mexico judge has rejected a request by Alec Baldwin to dismiss the sole criminal charge against him in a fatal shooting on the set of “Rust,” keeping the case on track for a trial this summer.

    Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Friday upheld an indictment charging Baldwin with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. The judge rejected defense arguments that prosecutors flouted the rules of grand jury proceedings to divert attention away from exculpatory evidence and witnesses.

    Special prosecutors have denied the accusations and said Baldwin made “shameless” attempts to escape culpability, highlighting contradictions in his statements to law enforcement, to workplace safety regulators and in a televised interview.

    Friday’s decision removes one of the last hurdles for prosecutors to put Baldwin on trial in July.

    The indictment in January charged Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, at a movie ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe.

    Baldwin, a lead actor and co-producer on the Western, has pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 1.5 years in prison. His attorneys argued during the virtual hearing on Friday that the grand jury received a one-sided presentation in bad faith from prosecutors who steered jurors away from exculpatory evidence and witnesses.

    During rehearsal, Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and injuring Joel Souza, the director. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the gun’s hammer, but not the trigger.

    Baldwin’s motion to dismiss the indictment argued that the grand jury received inaccurate and limited testimony about the revolver and safety protocols on movie sets.

    Over more than two hours of arguments Friday, defense attorneys for Baldwin accused the special prosecutor of neglecting her responsibilities to ensure impartiality and access to the defense’s witnesses and evidence.

    “The fix was in,” said defense attorney Alex Spiro. “There were no (defense) witnesses there to testify. There was no evidence binder of the defense exhibits.”

    “They never intended for the grand jury to ask for witnesses,” he continued. “They never wanted the grand jury to ask for exhibits.”

    Special prosecutors say they followed grand jury protocols and accuse Baldwin of “shameless” attempts to escape culpability, highlighting contradictions in his statements to law enforcement, to workplace safety regulators and in a televised interview. A jury trial is scheduled for July.

    Lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey on Friday defended her oversight of the grand jury, noting that she read to jurors a court-approved letter outlining procedures for accessing exculpatory evidence and witnesses and physically pointed at the defense’s boxes of evidence.

    “The grand jury never asked to hear from witnesses. There is nothing I can do about that,” Morrissey said. “We followed all of the judge’s orders.”

    Defense attorneys also highlighted that jurors were interrupted when they raised questions about safety procedures on film sets. Baldwin’s attorneys said jurors were guided away from listening to testimony from a sheriff’s detective and instead toward an expert witness paid by the prosecution to discuss film set safety.

    Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer seized on that point in a series of questions for Morrissey, asking why the detective wasn’t allowed to answer. Morrissey said the detective was well acquainted with the wrong ways to handle gun safety on a movie set from investigating the “Rust” set, but not well versed on proper industry protocols.

    “I did not prevent the grand jury from getting answers,” Morrissey said. “I made sure the grand jury got the answers to their questions from the witness with the most experience.”

    Baldwin did not appear at the hearing. Prosecutors have turned their full attention to Baldwin after a judge in April sentenced movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to the maximum of 1.5 years at a state penitentiary on an involuntary manslaughter conviction for Hutchins’ death.

    Prosecutors last year dismissed an earlier involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin after being told the gun he was holding might have been modified before the shooting and malfunctioned. A new analysis of the gun last year enabled prosecutors to reboot the case.

    The indictment against Baldwin offers two possible standards for prosecutors to pursue. One would be based on the negligent use of a firearm. An alternative is to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Baldwin caused Hutchins’ death without “due caution” or “circumspection,” also defined as “an act committed with total disregard or indifference for the safety of others.”

    Defense attorneys also say prosecutors steered the grand jury away from testimony by witnesses including the film’s director, as well as assistant director and safety coordinator Dave Halls and props master Sarah Zachry. Halls last year pleaded no contest to negligent handling of a firearm and completed a sentence of six months of unsupervised probation.

    The two-week trial of Gutierrez-Reed gave attorneys for Baldwin and the public an unusual window into how the actor’s own trial could unfold.

    Baldwin figured prominently in testimony and closing arguments that highlighted his authority as a co-producer and the lead actor on “Rust.” Both the prosecution and defense in Gutierrez-Reed’s trial dissected video footage of Baldwin before the fatal shooting for clues about breakdowns in firearms safety.

    Prosecutors said Gutierrez-Reed unwittingly brought live ammunition onto the set of “Rust,” where it was expressly prohibited and failed to follow basic gun safety protocols.

    Gutierrez-Reed is appealing the conviction, decided by a jury in March, to a higher court but hasn’t yet filed detailed arguments. At sentencing, Gutierrez-Reed told the judge she tried to do her best on the set despite not having “proper time, resources and staffing.”

    After the shooting in New Mexico, the filming of “Rust” resumed in Montana, under an agreement with Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, which made him an executive producer. Matthew Hutchins and the Hutchins’ son settled a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court under undisclosed terms.

    Defense attorneys said Baldwin was offered a deal last year to plead to a “minor offense” before a grand jury was convened, but the offer was “inexplicably retracted” before the deadline to respond.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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  • “Lies & Manipulation”: Alec Baldwin Lambasted By ‘Rust’ Prosecutors As Involuntary Manslaughter Trial Nears

    “Lies & Manipulation”: Alec Baldwin Lambasted By ‘Rust’ Prosecutors As Involuntary Manslaughter Trial Nears

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    A cascade of “misleading statements” and “false” claims by Alec Baldwin’s lawyers in the Rust star’s involuntary manslaughter case for the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins will do nothing to erase the actor’s “complete lack of concern for the safety of those around him,” declares the prosecution.

    Set to go on trial on July 9 in Santa Fe on charges re-filed in late January, Baldwin is facing up to 18 months behind bars if found guilty in the killing of Hutchins. With Baldwin pleading not guilty and always proclaiming he never pulled the trigger on the Colt .45 that fired live rounds at Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza, his lawyers have slammed the case as an “abuse of the system, and an abuse of an innocent person.” They want it dismissed ASAP

    Fresh of their successful involuntary manslaughter conviction of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed on March 6, one of the special prosecutors basically asserts Baldwin is in fact the one abusing the system on-set and in the courts. 

    “To watch Mr. Baldwin’s conduct on the set of Rust is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct effects those around him,” says Kari Morrissey in a scathing response (read it here) to the Emmy-winner’s attorneys latest March 14 attempt to get his case tossed out and the “false narrative” he has been constructing since that tragic October 21, 2021 day. “Witnesses have testified that it was this exact conduct that contributed to safety compromises on set.”

    The troubled set of the indie Western saw numerous unintended weapons discharges and most of the camera crew leave due to safety and financial concerns the day before Hutchins was killed. As a producer on the project, Baldwin is assumed to have been informed of what was going on. A season vet of many an action movie, Baldwin was also expected to follow proper firearm protocols — which, by his own sometimes contradictory accounts, didn’t happen.

    Morrissey confirms in her exhibit heavy response that there was an up until recently secret October 2023 proposed plea deal for Baldwin, but she says it fell apart because of cumulative alleged moves by the actor and his attorneys. The defense supposedly leaked the confidential material to NBC News (where Baldwin had an MSNBC show for a spell) and intended to file suits against the state of New Mexico and past prosecutors to “direct media attention to the frivolous lawsuit and away from the plea hearing.”

    Noting the deal was very similar to the probation agreement accepted by Rust first assistant director David Halls, Morrissey adds in the 32-page response:

    As disturbing this information was, undersigned counsel was not inclined to rescind the plea offer simply because Mr. Baldwin intended to continue to use the media to escape the consequences of his actions and his counsel had flagrantly disregarded the privileged and confidential nature of plea negotiations. Next, undersigned counsel received information that Mr. Baldwin commissioned his own documentary about the death of the woman he killed and was actively pressuring material witnesses in the case against him to submit to interviews for his documentary. It was at this point that the plea offer was rescinded, and the case was scheduled for grand jury. And still Mr. Baldwin complains to this Court that he has been treated unfairly.

    If that wasn’t blunt enough for you to pick up what Morrissey and her fellow Special Prosecutor Jason Lewis think of Baldwin and his defense team of NYC-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan lawyers and Albuquerque firm LeBlanc Law, the Special Prosecutor makes it clear as day what she feels about the March 14 motion to dismiss:

    The defendant’s motion to dismiss is a predictably false, misleading, and histrionic misrepresentation of the facts and circumstances of the history of the case. The two special prosecutors who have been assigned the prosecution of Mr. Baldwin have experienced near countless lies and manipulation from the defense for more than one year. In addition, we have, and certainly will continue to be, the subject of the defendant’s contrived and unwarranted personal attacks.

    The primary goal of Mr. Baldwin and his counsel, which now numbers eight total attorneys: Heather LeBlanc (local counsel who, despite her reputation for hard work and competence, has been relegated to largely menial tasks), Alex Spiro (New York), Luke Nikas (New York), John Bash (Texas), Sara Clark (Texas), Michael Nosanchuk (New York) Jennifer Stern (New York) and Stephanie Kelemen (New York) is to ensure that the case is not heard on its merits, and if it is heard on its merits, to discredit the prosecution, investigation, and witnesses in the media so that a conviction becomes unlikely for reasons that have nothing to do with Mr. Baldwin’s criminal culpability. It is the job of the special prosecutors to investigate the case and fairly and impartially prosecute the case and we will continue to do so despite the defendant’s relentless attempts to discredit and intimidate the prosecution and the courageous witnesses who continue to participate in the struggle for justice for Halyna Hutchins and her family.

    Taken into custody immediately on March 6 and denied release at a March 29 hearing by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer Gutierrez-Reed will be sentenced April 15. Declared innocent by the jurors of the evidence tampering charge the Special Prosecutors hit here with last year, Gutierrez-Reed could get a maximum of 18 months in a state prison and be forced to pay thousands in fines.

    Recharged with involuntary manslaughter in January and having entered a not guilty plea not long afterward, Baldwin is up against around half a dozen civil cases in California and New Mexico courts related to the fatal Rust shooting .

    Rust was resurrected early last year and completed filming in Montana with Baldwin and Souza returning as star/producer and director respectively. Finished for months, Rust has not been picked up by any buyers so far.

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    Dominic Patten

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  • Weapons Supervisor In Alec Baldwin’s Fatal Movie Set Incident Found Guilty

    Weapons Supervisor In Alec Baldwin’s Fatal Movie Set Incident Found Guilty

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    ‘Rust’ weapons supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the Alec Baldwin movie set shooting.

    According to the Associated Press, a jury declared her responsible for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

    As previously reported, Baldwin fired the weapon that ultimately killed Hutchins during a rehearsal. In January, he pleaded not guilty during his indictment. His trial is set to begin this July.

    RELATED: Baldwin Pleads Not Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter Charge In ‘Rust’ Shooting

    What’s Next For Hannah Gutierrez-Reed?

    Gutierrez-Reed faced an additional charge of tampering with evidence but dodged that conviction due to insufficient proof.

    The judge ordered deputies to arrest the 26-year-old after the verdict was read. Her lawyer, Jason Bowles, said Gutierrez-Reed will appeal the court’s decisions.

    She faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. But Judge Mary Marlowe Somer has not set a sentencing date, per AP.

    For context, Alec Baldwin pointed a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal for the “Rust” movie filmed in New Mexico. The firearm discharged and hit the cinematographer and director, Joel Souza. Souza survived his injuries.

    “We end exactly where we began — in the pursuit of justice for Halyna Hutchins,” prosecutor Kari Morrissey stated. “Hannah Gutierrez failed to maintain firearms safety, making a fatal accident willful and foreseeable. Never checked the rounds, to pull them out to shake them. I mean, if she’d have done that this wouldn’t have happened.”

    And What About Alec Baldwin?

    Meanwhile, Gutierrez-Reed’s defense attorney attempted to blame Baldwin solely.

    “It was not in the script for Mr. Baldwin to point the weapon. She didn’t know that Mr. Baldwin was going to do what he did,” the defense lawyer said.

    At trial, Bowles played a video outtake of Baldwin firing a revolver loaded with blanks in addition to a shot after a director says “cut.”

    The defense attorney argued, “You had a production company on a shoestring budget, an A-list actor that was really running the show. At the end, they had somebody they could all blame.” 

    Baldwin initially claimed he pulled back the hammer, but not the trigger and the gun fired. Analytics proved otherwise.

    Prosecutor Morrissey closed her arguments by describing “constant, never-ending safety failures” on the Santa Fe set and Gutierrez-Reed’s “astonishing lack of diligence” with firearm safety.

    RELATED: Alec Baldwin Says ‘Rust’ Shooting Has Cost Him Five Jobs

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    Carmen Jones

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  • Alec Baldwin indicted again for ‘Rust’ shooting that left cinematographer dead – National | Globalnews.ca

    Alec Baldwin indicted again for ‘Rust’ shooting that left cinematographer dead – National | Globalnews.ca

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    A grand jury indicted Alec Baldwin on Friday on an involuntary manslaughter charge in a 2021 fatal shooting during a rehearsal on a movie set in New Mexico, reviving a dormant case against the A-list actor.

    Special prosecutors brought the case before a grand jury in Santa Fe this week, months after receiving a new analysis of the gun that was used.

    Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the Western movie Rust, was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal on a movie set outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

    Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer, but not the trigger, and the gun fired.


    Click to play video: 'Bodycam footage from Baldwin ‘Rust’ set shooting shows moments after incident'


    Bodycam footage from Baldwin ‘Rust’ set shooting shows moments after incident


    Judges recently agreed to put on hold several civil lawsuits seeking compensation from Baldwin and producers of Rust after prosecutors said they would present charges to a grand jury. Plaintiffs in those suits include members of the film crew.

    Story continues below advertisement

    Special prosecutors dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in April, saying they were informed the gun might have been modified before the shooting and malfunctioned. They later pivoted and began weighing whether to refile a charge against Baldwin after receiving a new analysis of the gun.


    Click to play video: 'Charges dropped against Alec Baldwin in fatal ‘Rust’ movie set shooting'


    Charges dropped against Alec Baldwin in fatal ‘Rust’ movie set shooting


    The analysis from experts in ballistics and forensic testing relied on replacement parts to reassemble the gun fired by Baldwin, after parts of the pistol were broken during testing by the FBI. The report examined the gun and markings it left on a spent cartridge to conclude that the trigger had to have been pulled or depressed.


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    The analysis led by Lucien Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona stated that although Baldwin repeatedly denied pulling the trigger, “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.”

    Story continues below advertisement

    The weapons supervisor on the movie set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the case. Her trial is scheduled to begin in February.

    Rust assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls pleaded no contest to unsafe handling of a firearm last March and received a suspended sentence of six months of probation. He agreed to cooperate in the investigation of the shooting.

    Trending Now


    Click to play video: 'Prop gun use on movie sets: What, exactly, is the protocol?'


    Prop gun use on movie sets: What, exactly, is the protocol?


    An earlier FBI report on the agency’s analysis of the gun found that, as is common with firearms of that design, it could go off without pulling the trigger if force was applied to an uncocked hammer, such as by dropping the weapon.

    The only way the testers could get it to fire was by striking the gun with a mallet while the hammer was down and resting on the cartridge, or by pulling the trigger while it was fully cocked. The gun eventually broke during testing.

    Story continues below advertisement

    The 2021 shooting resulted in a series of civil lawsuits, including wrongful death claims filed by members of Hutchins’ family, centred on accusations that the defendants were lax with safety standards. Baldwin and other defendants have disputed those allegations.


    Click to play video: 'Mourners pay tribute to cinematographer killed in accidental shooting by actor Alec Baldwin'


    Mourners pay tribute to cinematographer killed in accidental shooting by actor Alec Baldwin


    The Rust Movie Productions company has paid a $100,000 fine to state workplace safety regulators after a scathing narrative of failures in violation of standard industry protocols, including testimony that production managers took limited or no action to address two misfires on set before the fatal shooting.

    The filming of Rust resumed last year in Montana, under an agreement with the cinematographer’s widower, Matthew Hutchins, that made him an executive producer.

    &copy 2024 The Canadian Press

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  • ‘Rust’ Armorer Was Offered Leniency If She Explained Source of Live Bullet

    ‘Rust’ Armorer Was Offered Leniency If She Explained Source of Live Bullet

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    The prosecutor in the “Rust” case offered a “favorable” outcome last fall to armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed if she would help explain how live rounds made it onto the film’s set.

    But the offer came with a warning that if she refused, she would be hit with additional charges.

    Gutierrez Reed is set to go on trial next month in Santa Fe, N.M., for the death of Halyna Hutchins, the “Rust” cinematographer. She faces up to three years in prison if convicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.

    Hutchins was killed in Oct. 2021 while preparing to film a scene with Alec Baldwin, who was holding a gun that fired a live bullet. Gutierrez Reed loaded the gun, which was supposed to contain only dummy rounds.

    Several other live rounds were also recovered. During the investigation, a detective asked Gutierrez Reed why there would be live ammo on set.

    “I have no idea,” she said at the time.

    Investigators have still not determined where the live rounds came from.

    The special prosecutor, Kari Morrissey, told Gutierrez Reed’s defense lawyer in an email last Sept. 28 that she believes Gutierrez Reed knows more about it than she has let on.

    “I feel very strongly she has some notion of how the live rounds came on set,” Morrissey wrote. “I certainly respect her right not to come forward with that information and to stay silent, however if she were to come forward and answer some of these questions that plague the victims in this case that would go a long way toward getting her a favorable resolution.”

    The prosecutor went on to say that there would be consequences if she refused.

    “If she chooses not to,” Morrissey wrote, “while I respect her decision, I will proceed with the additional felony charges we spoke of.”

    Gutierrez Reed’s lawyer, Jason Bowles, took that as a threat — either falsely confess to bringing the live rounds on set, or face additional charges.

    Bowles responded by invoking his client’s right against self-incrimination.

    A few weeks later, on Nov. 16, Gutierrez Reed was indicted on a charge of carrying a firearm in a liquor establishment, a fourth degree felony. According to the indictment, she brought a gun into the Matador, a Santa Fe dive bar, on Oct. 1, 2021, about 10 days after the shooting.

    Bowles is now seeking to have that charge dismissed on several grounds. In a motion filed on Thursday, he argued that the charge was filed vindictively, in retaliation for exercising the right to remain silent.

    “This is an extremely rare case in which we have a statement of the prosecutor’s motive behind charging,” Bowles wrote. “That charge was solely designed to pressure Ms. Gutierrez Reed into giving up her Fifth Amendment right to silence (to provide information she didn’t have) or face felony criminal prosecution on a totally unrelated charge.”

    Bowles has also argued that the special prosecutor’s salary is paid by a specific appropriation by the New Mexico legislature, which limits her scope to the “Rust” case. Therefore, he argued that she has no authority to bring charges unrelated to the shooting.

    He also argued that the evidence underlying the new charge came in part from an improper search of pictures and data on Gutierrez Reed’s phone. In the motion, Bowles said that the phone was turned over to investigators on condition that the search be limited to information relevant to the shooting.

    Morrissey has yet to respond to the motion.

    Morrissey and her co-counsel, Jason Lewis, are private attorneys who were appointed last March to take over the prosecution after the elected D.A. recused herself.

    The D.A., Mary Carmack-Altwies, and another special prosecutor, Andrea Reeb, faced criticism over a series of missteps that plagued the initial handling of the case.

    Baldwin was also initially charged with involuntary manslaughter, but that charge was dropped last April.

    In October, Morrissey and Lewis said that “additional facts have come to light” that merited charges against Baldwin. They said they intended to bring the case to a grand jury within two months, though that time frame has passed without an indictment.

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    Gmaddaus

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  • A Guide to Planting Hollyhocks

    A Guide to Planting Hollyhocks

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    There are lots of signs that summer has arrived—children get out of school, otherwise normal men get out of regular clothes and into lime green golf pants, and, in many gardens, the weeds get out of hand.

    To me summer means hollyhocks. Flower fads come and go like UFO sitings, but hollyhocks, those tall, lanky members of the mallow family, remain popular.

    In Old English “hock” is synonymous with “mallow”. The mallow plants that returned from the Middle East with the Crusaders were called “holy” or “holly” hocks.Whatever the name, the plants and their bright flowers were a hit in the color-starved Middle Ages.

    In America, the common hollyhock (Alcea rosea) could easily claim membership in the D.A.R., having arrived with the colonists. As almost everyone knows, Thomas Jefferson grew them at Monticello. As a few people know, Celia Thaxter, late 19th century gardener and poet, grew them in her famed beds on Appledore Island, off the New Hampshire coast, where they were immortalized by American Impressionist painter Childe Hassam.

    Seeds and plants have been available from catalog vendors since the advent of mail order. As I recall, a couple of years ago, both White Flower Farm, Wayside Gardens, and the venerable English firm Thompson & Morgan all featured hollyhock cultivars on catalog covers.

    Hollyhocks were the first plants that I grew as a child, mostly because there was a small stand of them established in our backyard, and the seeds were easy to collect and sow. I did not know at the time that common hollyhocks are biennial, producing vegetative growth the first year after they are planted and flowers in the second year.

    Fortunately, the plants in our backyard did what hollyhocks do best—self-seeding—and we had flowers every year. Our hollyhocks were the single variety, with white blossoms marked by dark red “eyes”. I watered them religiously, but otherwise, the hollyhocks grew unattended in a rather exposed spot just behind the sandbox. One year a rabbit made her nest between the roots of the biggest plant, undoubtedly amending the soil regularly with organic material.

    My current garden is home to two different species, fig-leaf hollyhock (Alcea ficifolia) and the common variety. I hasten to add that I inherited my plants from the previous owner, who did not live here long enough to see them bloom. The common hollyhocks, leaning artistically against the unpainted back fence, are pink doubles. The blossoms remind me of the tissue flowers that we used to make on rainy days when I was a child.

    The less common fig-leaf variety stands on the opposite side of my upper garden, in front of one of the lattice-work panels that camouflages the understructure supporting my back porch. It is just now producing medium size blossoms in a wonderful shade of pale yellow. Every time I look at my Alcea ficifolia I renew my belief in serendipity. I have wanted one for years, and somehow never got around to ordering it from the catalogs. Now I feel as if I have gotten the proverbial free lunch.

    The problem with all the hollyhocks is that their stems and foliage are, to put it frankly, rather ugly. The leaves, whether they are rounded or incised, are large and coarse. The stems are tall and hairy. To add bad to worse, the plants are susceptible to hollyhock rust, which makes rusty brown splotches on the leaves. To my knowledge, no hybridizer has been able to come up with a more elegant looking plant.

    Perhaps that is just as well. After all, hollyhocks in the country don’t have to worry about elegance. There is a patch of common hollyhock growing by an old garage near our summer cottage. These plants have been self-seeding for generations and are the main adornment to a ramshackle property that has been for sale for at least 25 years. The blossoms provide so much relief to the eye, that nobody even notices the ugly leaves.

    In city gardens, you can plant things in front of hollyhocks, such as coreopsis or lady’s mantle or even big pots of red geraniums to cover up those less-than-perfect legs. After the plants have bloomed, wait until the seed pods dry out, then collect the seeds, or if you are lazy, let them self-sow. Afterwards, cut down the stalks. With hollyhocks as with life, you can emphasize the beauty and minimize the ugliness if you just make a little effort.

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    Elisabeth Ginsburg

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    Frederick Leeth

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  • People Are Just Discovering How to Remove Rust Spots on Knives (and It’s Basically Free)

    People Are Just Discovering How to Remove Rust Spots on Knives (and It’s Basically Free)

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    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    On our last camping trip of the season, I discovered our one and only camp kitchen knife had patina and was beginning to rust. Once home, I promptly forgot about it, as one does, until I saw this TikTok describing a simple way to remove rust stains. In an effort to procrastinate on more pressing tasks, I prioritized cleaning our camping knife on the cusp of winter (when we will not be camping). Because it just made sense!

    In the video, Chantel Mila encourages viewers to “Remove rust spots instantly using baking soda and lemon juice.” She uses half a lemon to scrub juice and baking soda on the surface of the knife, and the rust disappears. I always have lemons on hand, so I grabbed the camp knife from the garage and got to work.  

    I’m going to have to call bull on the “instantly” claim. There was nothing instant about this removal process. I saw so little progress initially, that — despite knowing a base neutralizes an acid — I tried the baking soda with the lemon. As expected, it didn’t make a difference. 

    Next, I added some salt to the knife as an abrasive. I saw some significant improvement, but at this rate I was going to be scrubbing the knife until our next camping trip. At this point — apologies to Mila — I turned to Google. Popular knife maker Wüstof cautions, “Do not use abrasive sponges,” but luxury knife maker William Henry says it’s OK to use steel wool. Since this was just my camp knife, and not my santoku knife, I decided to risk it. I gently scrubbed the lemon juice on the knife with a fresh ball of steel wool, and the spots quickly (and finally) lifted. 

    The steel wool did the trick, and my camp knife is no longer covered in rust and patina. It’s also not scratched and no worse for wear from a gentle application of steel wool. If you’re not willing to risk scratches, the salt and lemon combo will get you to the same place eventually — assuming you’re more patient than I am. The lemony smell makes the work more pleasant, and if you have the time and inclination, the long route is definitely best. 

    If you’re like me, however, and you want to remove the spots and get on with your life, I won’t tell Wüstof you used steel wool. Promise!

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    Meg Asby

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  • The ‘Rust’ Armorer Will Go To Trial In December

    The ‘Rust’ Armorer Will Go To Trial In December

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    Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of “Rust,” where actor Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering charges, The New York Times reported.

    Gutierrez-Reed will go to trial on Dec. 6. Earlier this month, a judge decided not to dismiss the charges against her and told attorneys to “stay the course.”

    While on set during a rehearsal in October 2021 in New Mexico, Baldwin was pointing a gun at Hutchins when it went off, killing Hutchins. Baldwin has said that he did not pull the trigger and has “no idea” how the gun went off.

    “Someone put a live bullet in a gun. A bullet that wasn’t even supposed to be on the property,” Baldwin told ABC in December 2021.

    Prosecutors allege that Gutierrez-Reed was likely hungover the day of the shooting and had been drinking and smoking marijuana in the evenings during filming. They also allege that she “did transfer narcotics to another person with the intent to prevent the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of herself.” Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    A special prosecutor on the case said in a statement in January that Gutierrez-Reed didn’t check the “rounds she was loading into the firearms” before the shooting, “allowing live rounds on scene.” The prosecutors argued that Gutierrez-Reed wasn’t a qualified armorer and didn’t have enough experience for the job.

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  • ‘Rust’ Armourer Charged In Shooting Of Cinematographer Denied Bid To Have Charges Dismissed: Report

    ‘Rust’ Armourer Charged In Shooting Of Cinematographer Denied Bid To Have Charges Dismissed: Report

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    By Emerson Pearson.
    Published:
    Last updated:

    “Rust” armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed continues to find herself in legal limbo.

    In a virtual courtroom showdown on Tuesday, “Rust” armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed faced a Santa Fe judge’s decision on her request to dismiss charges against her.

    Defence attorneys claimed the prosecution’s recent statements to the media could prejudice potential jurors. They argued that accusations of Gutierrez-Reed hiding cocaine and being “hung over” during the tragic on-set shooting might sway public opinion, per Deadline.


    READ MORE:
    ‘Rust’ Weapons Supervisor Charged With Dumping Drugs On Day Of Alec Baldwin Shooting

    However, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer denied the request, stating it was still preliminary and potential jurors hadn’t been affected yet.

    The controversial case made global headlines, involving the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021, with actor Alec Baldwin also facing charges.


    READ MORE:
    Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Wrongful Death Settlement Approved For Late Halyna Hutchins’ Family

    While Baldwin’s charges were dropped earlier this year, Gutierrez-Reed now faces involuntary manslaughter and evidence-tampering charges.

    Her next hearing is scheduled for August 9.

    Despite defence claims of personal motivations shaping the prosecution, the judge ordered both sides to “stay the course” on the charges. If convicted, Gutierrez-Reed could face up to three years behind bars and hefty fines.

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    Emerson Pearson

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  • War Thunder ‘Revises’ Economy, Fans Review-Bomb Game To Hell

    War Thunder ‘Revises’ Economy, Fans Review-Bomb Game To Hell

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    Online vehicular shooter War Thunder made some changes to the way its economy works recently, and players of the game are so upset that not only have they review-bombed the game to hell and back, but the developers have been forced to take extremely apologetic actions in response.

    Type S: Chiaki’s Journey II Volume 4

    Basically, a game that has over the years become increasingly pay-to-win—as well as becoming a dumping ground for state secrets—recently implemented economy changes that made it even harder to get anything out of the game—especially progression—unless you were regularly spending actual money.

    Players, fed up with the exploitation, did one of the few things available to them: they took to Steam to leave negative feedback, posting thousands of messages protesting the changes and attacking developers Gaijin. At time of publishing the game’s Steam review section looked like this:

    The most popular negative review sums up the situation nicely:

    I didn’t want to leave a negative review, but Gaijin’s blatant contempt for their own players has forced my hand.

    War Thunder is a game like no other, with a comprehensive damage system, combined arms, and variety of beautifully modeled tanks, aircraft and ships.

    Unfortunately, this “uniqueness” has left Gaijin with little real competition over the years. What started off as a “free to play” title has over time become less and less free. Gaijin keeps adding nations and vehicles, while at the same time increasing repair costs and lowering RP/SL gain. A premium account isn’t enough to comfortably progress anymore, now you also have to buy premium vehicles in every nation.

    For the new players reading this, Gaijin has recently admitted that they balance free vehicles around a negative SL income for average players. That means they WANT you to lose money by playing, so you’ll be forced to buy a top tier premium vehicle.

    In response, Gaijin have cancelled the most recent and punitive economic changes—though this will do little to reverse the gradual trend that had already alienated so many long-time players—and posted one of the sorriest apology statements I have ever seen:

    Dear players,

    Firstly, we would like to extend our sincerest apologies to each and every one of you. We deeply regret the fact that our actions have let you down, and that we have failed to adequately address the concerns you have voiced over time. We share your passion for the game, and it pains us that our decisions have not lived up to your expectations.

    Over the past week, we’ve been diligently analyzing the feedback you’ve provided. We acknowledge and agree with your concerns regarding the balance of the economy (Silver Lions and Research Points), as well as modification research. We have therefore prioritized addressing these issues as our immediate concern.

    We are in the process of creating a plan to tackle these problems. While we have made some initial progress in understanding the scope of these issues and potential solutions, we anticipate providing a more detailed roadmap by the 14th of June.

    We understand the urgency you feel for changes to be implemented, and we assure you, we share your eagerness. However, given the scale and complexity of a project like War Thunder, some time is required to ensure that any changes we make are both effective and beneficial to the player experience.

    We are also continually reviewing the vast array of other feedback and suggestions we receive. Rest assured, these are important to us and will be addressed, but at this moment, our first priority remains the game’s economics and progression.

    We are truly sorry for the disappointment and frustration that we have caused. We commit to you that we are doing everything we can to improve the game, and regain your trust.

    Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. We value your continued support and your dedication to the game we all love.

    I would argue that listening now is listening too late. Clearly this player base has had enough of this bullshit and has been angry for a very long time, and walking back one set of changes will do little to address fundamental flaws in the game’s underlying design, which are really what people are so pissed off about.

    Changing the severity and timing of the squeeze won’t do anything when it’s the squeeze itself players are so upset about.

    As a further measure players are now planning a boycott on May 26, though other plans for a “seal-clubbing day” on May 25, in an attempt to get “new players to quit”, might not be as great an idea or look.

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    Luke Plunkett

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  • In Cannes, ‘Rust’ Is Looking For Buyers And Alec Baldwin Has A New Project

    In Cannes, ‘Rust’ Is Looking For Buyers And Alec Baldwin Has A New Project

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    By The Associated Press.
    Published:

    A year and a half after the fatal shooting of its cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, the Alec Baldwin Western “Rust” is back on the market at the Cannes Film Festival, shopping for international buyers.

    Last month, “Rust” resumed shooting in Montana to finish the independently financed production that shut down following Hutchins’ death in October 2021. Matthew Hutchins, her widower, is serving as an executive producer on the film as part of a settlement over a wrongful death lawsuit.

    The Cannes film market, which is in centreed in the Palais des Festivals but has no relation to the official festival lineup, is where “Rust” was first formed as a production in 2000. Goodfellas, a sales company formerly known as Wild Bunch International, is handling sales.


    READ MORE:
    Alec Baldwin Thanks Fans For Support As ‘Rust’ Continues Filming: ‘I’m Grateful’

    “Rust” still lacks North American distribution.

    New Mexico prosecutors dropped criminal charges against Baldwin in April. Involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin were abandoned three weeks after a new prosecutor team took over the case, though the same charge currently remains for weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Assistant director David Halls has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

    Now, producers are seeking buyers for a film synonymous with Hutchins’ on-set death. Director Joel Souza was also wounded.


    READ MORE:
    Alec Baldwin’s ‘Kent State’ Film About 1970 Shooting Will Not Have Any Guns On Set

    “This is an unprecedented film in regards to the circumstances,” producer Ryan Donnell Smith told The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re trying to keep realistic expectations but shepherd this in the best way we can.”

    Baldwin, though, has booked another film circulating the Cannes market. The actor is to join the cast of “Kent State”, a dramatization of the 1970 killing of four students by the National Guard protesting the Vietnam War on the Ohio college campus. In the film, written and to be directed by Karen Slade, Baldwin is to play Robert I. White, Kent State’s then president.

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    Melissa Romualdi

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  • Death Threats Lead To Cancellation Of Rust Fan Meeting

    Death Threats Lead To Cancellation Of Rust Fan Meeting

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    Screenshot: Rust

    The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is next week, and while that’s normally a time for developers from around the world to meet up, the developers of Rust were also planning on using the event to catch up with fans. That now won’t be happening.

    As PC Gamer report, the original plans were for a meeting—at a “coffee shop in San Francisco”—to be “a chance for conference attendees and fans to meet the Rust team, share their portfolios, and ‘talk shop’”.

    It has been now been cancelled after the developers received “threats to kill”, with the team posting a statement to Twitter that reads:

    This is not a statement we’re happy to announce.

    Due to an IRL threat we must take seriously, we’re going to have to cancel the GDC meetup in San Fran next week. 😢

    Fans are instead encouraged to “reach out via email!” instead. “It’s important to remember the developers are indeed humans”, they add in a follow-up Tweet, saying “When threats arise we make their safety #1.”

    “The overwhelming majority of fans are respectful and supportive,” Rust producer Alistair McFarlane told PC Gamer, adding “there is always going to be a small subset of individuals who engage in threatening and abusive behaviour.”

    It’s important to note that this meetup wasn’t a part of the official Game Developers Conference schedule of events, and so had nothing to do with the organisers of GDC. This was something the Rust team were organising outside of that, just to take advantage of the fact that the team and fans were going to be in the same space for a few days.

    The cancellation also only affects this one meetup; developers Facepunch will still be attending the Game Developers Conference itself, which runs from March 20-24.

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    Luke Plunkett

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  • Alec Baldwin Seeks To Disqualify Special Prosecutor In ‘Rust’ Shooting Case

    Alec Baldwin Seeks To Disqualify Special Prosecutor In ‘Rust’ Shooting Case

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    By Zach Seemayer, ETOnline.com.
    Published:

    Alec Baldwin’s legal team is making their first big move after the actor was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

    In court documents obtained by ET on Tuesday, Baldwin is asking the court to remove Andrea Reeb as special prosecutor in the “Rust” case.

    According to the argument, the objection is due to the fact that Reeb is a current member of the New Mexico House of Representatives.

    Baldwin’s lawyers argue that Reeb, a Republican representative, cannot hold the title of a state lawmaker and that of special prosecutor, because the state constitution’s separation of powers provision prohibits her from serving as a prosecutor and as a state lawmaker.

    “Doing so vests two core powers of different branches — legislating and prosecuting — in the same person,” the motion argues, “and is thus barred by the plain language of Article III of the New Mexico Constitution.”

    The motion further argues that, should this arrangement be allowed, “Future District Attorneys could seek to curry favor with legislators who control their budgets by appointing them to high-profile cases” and this would lead to “distorting the legislative process.”

    “At the same time, allowing a single person to exercise both legislative and prosecutorial power could taint prosecutorial decision-making,” the motion argues. “A prosecutor who also serves as a legislator could face pressure to make prosecutorial decisions that serve her legislative interests, such as by prosecuting a prominent defendant associated with an opposing faction within the Legislature even in the face of conflicting evidence or law.”

    Reeb was first brought onto the case last year by the First Judicial District Attorney in Santa Fe, Mary Carmack-Altwies. She was then elected onto the state House of Representatives in November.

    In response to the motion, the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office released a statement to Variety calling the filing an effort to distract from the charges themselves.

    “Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys can use whatever tactics they want to distract from the fact that Halyna Hutchins died because of gross negligence and a reckless disregard for safety on the ‘Rust’ film set,” the statement claimed. “However, the district attorney and the special prosecutor will remain focused on the evidence and on trying this case so that justice is served.”

    In a statement released by Carmack-Altwies and Reeb last month, it was announced that charges were filed against Baldwin after the gun he was holding discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza on the Western film set in New Mexico.

    ‘Rust’ armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was also charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

    Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed will be “charged in the alternative” with the two counts of manslaughter, meaning that a jury would decide not simply if they were guilty, but under which definition of involuntary manslaughter they were guilty.

    The first charge is referred to as involuntary manslaughter. For this charge to be proved, there must be underlying negligence. This also includes a misdemeanour charge for negligent use of a firearm. Under New Mexico law, involuntary manslaughter is a fourth-degree felony and is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

    The other charge is involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act. This charge requires proof that there was more than simple negligence involved in a death. This is also a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in jail and up to a $5,000 fine. This charge includes a firearm enhancement, or added mandatory penalty, because a firearm was involved. The firearm enhancement makes the crime punishable by a mandatory five years in jail.

    As for David Halls, the film’s assistant director, he has signed a plea agreement for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. The terms include a suspended sentence and six months of probation.

    MORE FROM ET:

    Hilaria Baldwin Says Her Family Would ‘Crumble’ Without Fan Support

    Alec Baldwin Returns to Instagram Following ‘Rust’ Charges

    ‘Rust’ Will Be Completed With Alec Baldwin Despite Criminal Charges

    Hilaria Baldwin Wears ‘Empathy’ Shirt After Alec’s ‘Rust’ Charges

    ‘Rust’ Prosecutor Talks Alec Baldwin Involuntary Manslaughter Charges

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    Brent Furdyk

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  • Alec Baldwin to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in ‘Rust’ shooting – National | Globalnews.ca

    Alec Baldwin to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in ‘Rust’ shooting – National | Globalnews.ca

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    Actor Alec Baldwin and prop armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will both be charged with involuntary manslaughter for the on-set shooting death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

    New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced on Thursday that the charges will be officially filed by the end of the month.

    Read more:

    Alec Baldwin, ‘Rust’ producers reach settlement with slain cinematographer’s estate

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    New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to step down in February, won’t run in October election

    “After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the Rust film crew,” Carmack-Altwies said in a statement.

    She continued: “On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice.”

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    Rust‘s assistant director David Halls also signed a plea agreement for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. The terms of the agreement reportedly include a suspended sentence and six months probation.

    The lawyer for Hutchins’ husband, Matthew, released a statement following the announcement of the charges.

    “We want to thank the Santa Fe Sheriff and the District Attorney for concluding their thorough investigation and determining that charges for involuntary manslaughter are warranted for the killing of Halyna Hutchins with conscious disregard for human life,” the statement reads.

    In October 2021, Hutchins was struck and killed by a prop gun shot by Baldwin, 64, which contained a “live round.” Rust writer and director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident.

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    The shooting occurred as Baldwin, 64, rehearsed with what he believed to be a safe gun, provided to him by Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for the guns on set.

    Baldwin has consistently denied responsibility for Hutchins’ death and said live rounds should never have been allowed onto the set. He claims he was unaware the gun was loaded when he fired.

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    In April, footage of Alec Baldwin just minutes after the deadly shooting was released by police.

    In soundless rehearsal footage, Baldwin is seen quickly drawing and aiming an F.lli Pietta 45 Long Colt Revolver, the same gun that was later misfired.

    Baldwin, in the video, confirms to officers, “I was the one holding the gun, yeah.” He continues to be cooperative with police despite his flustered state, and says, “My hands are shaking.”


    Click to play video: 'Bodycam footage from Baldwin ‘Rust’ set shooting shows moments after incident'


    Bodycam footage from Baldwin ‘Rust’ set shooting shows moments after incident


    Later in August, Hutchins’ death was determined by New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator to be an accident following the completion of an autopsy and a review of law enforcement reports.

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    In the fall, Baldwin reached a settlement with Hutchins’ estate. As part of the settlement, Matthew Hutchins became executive producer of Rust, which was set to begin filming again this month. It is unclear how the new charges will affect the movie’s plans to resume.

    &copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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    Sarah Do Couto

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