Alec Baldwin's has made several mistakes as he was charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to legal and brand experts.
The 64-year-old will be charged with the involuntary manslaughter of Halyna who died after being airlifted to hospital from the Rust film set in New Mexico.
Halyna Hutchins, 42, was killed on the set of Rust in October 2021 when Alec discharged a prop gun, believing it was not live.
The incident also saw director Joel Souza injured.
The New Mexico District Attorney stated that as well as Baldwin, the film's head armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will also face two charges of involuntary manslaughter which carries a maximum prison sentence of 18 months.
Alec Baldwin accused of 'wilful disregard for others' safety' before Rust death
However, Alec's lawyers hit out, claiming the charge "represents a terrible miscarriage of justice".
We look at the mistakes experts say Alec Baldwin made after the fatal shooting.
Alec Baldwin on the set of Rust in New MexicoTell-all interview
Alec Baldwin sat down for a tell-all interview with George Stephanopoulos shortly after the fatal shooting.
"The interview was a mistake," former U.S. Assistant Attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital.
"I'm sure [his lawyer] did not want Baldwin to do the interview. But Baldwin or his PR team ignored his advice."
During the in-depth interview, Baldwin detailed the moment the gun went off and claimed that he didn't pull the trigger.
Fox News contributor and attorney Leo Terrell agrees and told The Faulkner Focus: "One of the biggest mistakes Alec Baldwin made was to go on George Stephanopoulos’ program and say he didn’t pull the trigger.
"That was a lie. I guarantee you that’s going to come back to haunt him."
Alec Baldwin said he "didn't pull the trigger" of the gun that fatally wounded cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during an interview for ABC (ABC)Losing credibility with the public
Baldwin's credibility has suffered in the eyes of the public according to brand expert Eric Schiffer who says Americans have been made to feel like "suckers" by the actor.
"He hurt himself early on in unimaginable ways with the public who thought, 'Why would any adult think it would be OK to aim a gun at anyone, let alone have it go off?'" Schiffer said.
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"And the other challenge for Baldwin is this claim that he never pulled the trigger, which is seen by the public as a big lie. Not only was it horrifyingly dumb, but it defies gun physics."
Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins, 42, was fatally struck in the incident on set in Santa Fe (Halyna Hutchins/Instagram)Public statements
Baldwin has made multiple statements to the public after the shooting.
In a statement following the news he will be charged yesterday, his lawyer Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel said: "This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins' tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice.
"Mr Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set.
"He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win."
But Rachel Fiset, co-founder and managing partner at Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo, said these public statements could be used against him.
"Generally speaking, when a possible defendant is under investigation, public statements about that investigation only serve to raise potential bias against the defendant," Fiset said.
The lawyer added that these public statements could be used "against him later to reduce his credibility".
Participating in a police interview immediately
Alec Baldwin participated in a police interview immediately after the fatal shooting (Getty Images for National Geogra)After Halyna was shot on the set of Rust, Baldwin participated in a police interview apparently without a lawyer present.
"Baldwin's interrogation with police officers was also a mistake," Rahmani said.
"Any competent lawyer will advise you to keep your mouth shut and not talk to the cops."
In the police interview, Baldown told investigators: "When I shot the gun, away from the cameraman, I never aim the gun at the camera, I turned, and I went like this.
"And she was there. And the gun went off. And she just went right on the ground."
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