Alec Baldwin has been charged again over fatal 'Rust' shooting

Alec Baldwin faces a second charge in connection to the tragic death of producer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust.

The indictment, filed in New Mexico, alleges involuntary manslaughter, stemming from the incident in October 2021 when a prop gun discharged, resulting in Hutchins' death and injuring the film's director, Joel Souza.

Initially, a similar charge against Baldwin was dismissed last April, with prosecutors suggesting the gun might have been modified and malfunctioned. However, a recent analysis contradicts this, asserting that the trigger had to be pulled or depressed to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the firearm. Baldwin, 65, maintains that he did not pull the trigger but only pulled back the hammer before the gun fired.

In response to the indictment, Baldwin's lawyers stated that they "look forward to our day in court." The actor has consistently denied pulling the trigger and has emphasized the knowledge of those present on the set. FBI analysis indicates that certain guns may discharge without trigger manipulation if force is applied to an uncocked hammer, but investigators found it fired only when the trigger was pulled while fully cocked or when struck with a mallet.

Baldwin's recounting of the incident on The Chris Cuomo Project podcast in 2022 emphasized the perspectives of those present on the film set. His previous charge was criticized as a "terrible miscarriage of justice" by his lawyer.

22.01.24

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