Rust cinematographer’s death will lead to charge of ‘gross negligence at minimum’, lawyer says
A leading celebrity lawyer believes there will be a charge of “gross negligence at the absolute minimum” over the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
Gloria Allred, a women’s rights lawyer known for taking high-profile cases, is representing script assistant Mamie Mitchell, who was standing beside cinematographer Ms Hutchins when she was shot dead with a suspected live bullet fired by leading actor, Alec Baldwin.
The group were inside a mocked-up church, but Ms Allred says Ms Mitchell wasn’t expecting the gun to be fired, even with a “blank” – let alone live ammunition.
The cinematographer was shot dead on the set of Rust
“Alec fired the gun and the bullet whizzed past Mamie,” Ms Allred said.
“She was in shock that her friend suddenly fell to the floor but had the presence of mind to run out of the church with her phone in her hand and call 911.”
Ms Mitchell made what is believed to be the first call to emergency services. During the phone call she appears to place the blame on the assistant director Dave Halls.
“This f****** AD that yelled at me at lunch asking about revisions, this motherf*****,” Ms Mitchell says, appearing to be in conversation with someone who was not on the call.
“He’s supposed to check the guns. He’s responsible for what happened.”
Ms Allred says Ms Mitchell is traumatised by the incident.
Gloria Allred says a gross negligence charge is likely to be brought as the ‘absolute minimum’
“There was no reason for the gun to even go off because a rehearsal had not even been called,” Ms Allred said.
“Alec Baldwin was practising, but it wasn’t even a rehearsal.
“Had the scene started, Mamie would not have been inside that church because safety protocols would require her to be outside of the church with ear protectors on and with plexiglass around where the gun would be shot.
“She feels that she deserves the truth and that others on the set need to know why there was a breakdown, leading to a tragedy. It was, at the minimum, gross negligence.”
Alec Baldwin is said to have not known the gun was loaded when he pulled the trigger
Police in New Mexico are leading the investigation into Ms Hutchins‘ death and say they haven’t ruled out bringing criminal charges over the shooting.
In a statement, the producers of Rust, including Alec Baldwin, said: “The safety of our cast and crew is the top priority of Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company.
“Though we were not made aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or prop safety on set, we will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down.
“We will continue to cooperate with the Santa Fe authorities in their investigation and offer mental health services to the cast and crew during this tragic time.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘Set of Rust was unsafe’ claims camera op
Sky News has also approached Mr Halls for comment but has not been able to reach him.
Mr Halls’ lawyer Lisa Torraco told Fox News in an interview earlier this week: “What I can tell you is that expecting an assistant director to check a firearm is like telling the assistant director to check the camera angle or telling the assistant director to check sound or lighting.
“That’s not the assistant director’s job. If he chooses to check the firearm because he wants to make sure that everyone is safe, he can do that. But that’s not his responsibility.”
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
Read more from Sky News:
Kremlin urges caution in nuclear rhetoric following Trump’s submarine order
Still wanted: UK riots suspects pictured in new police appeal
In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
Read more from Sky News:
World champion sprinter arrested for ‘assaulting boyfriend’
Trump says “nobody has asked” him to pardon Maxwell
O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike