Alec Baldwin indicted on involuntary manslaughter over Rust shooting death
Alec Baldwin has been indicted on involuntary manslaughter for the second time after the death of a producer on the set of Rust.
The Grand Jury indictment was filed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, today over the death of Halyna Hutchins, who died after a prop gun, held by Baldwin, went off on set in October 2021.
New forensic tests have concluded Baldwin would have had to pull the trigger to fire the live round – a finding matched by a previous FBI test – but he has said he only pulled back the hammer.
Responding to the indictment, the actor’s lawyers said “we look forward to our day in court”.
All criminal charges were dropped in April last year, based on evidence the hammer might been modified, allowing it to fire without the trigger being pulled.
They later began considering whether to refile a charge in light of the new analysis, which relied on replacement parts to reassemble the pistol after it was broken during FBI testing.
The new report states: “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.”
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
The earlier FBI analysis found – as is common with this type of firearm – the gun could go off without pulling the trigger if force were applied to an uncocked hammer.
This could be done by dropping the weapon, for example.
The only way analysts 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.
‘Always sought truth’
There have been a series of civil lawsuits since the shooting, including wrongful death claims filed by members of Mrs Hutchins’s family.
These claims centre on accusations the defendants were lax with safety standards – though Baldwin and other defendants have disputed those allegations.
Alec Baldwin is seen talking to investigators on the Rust film set following the 2021 shooting. Pic: AP/Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office
Gloria Allred, a lawyer for Mrs Hutchins’s family and script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, said her clients have “always sought the truth”.
“They continue to seek the truth in our civil lawsuit for them and they also would like there to be accountability in the criminal justice system,” she said.
Read more:
First images of Alec Baldwin on set of Rust after filming resumes
“We are looking forward to the criminal trial, which will determine if he should be convicted for the untimely death of Halyna.”
The movie set’s weapons supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the case, with her trial scheduled to begin in February.
Filming resumed last year in Montana after an agreement with the cinematographer’s widower Matthew Hutchins made him an executive producer.
Entertainment
Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact
An investigation into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour” on MasterChef has found that more than half of the allegations against him have been substantiated, including one of “unwanted physical contact”.
MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months.
The report also said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace’s return to MasterChef “untenable”.
The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants.
There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were substantiated. All were related to MasterChef.
While the majority of the substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated.
One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.
Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place post-2018.
Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014
Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been “cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.
Additionally, the report summary found that there were also 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. Those people were not named in the summary.
The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024.
Gregg Wallace on MasterChef. Pic: BBC/ Shine TV 2024
While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures prior to 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016.
While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.
Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace for contact today.
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