09 April 2024 , 18:35
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Hollywood star Alec Baldwin “lied shamelessly” and altered his story after the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of his film Rust, prosecutors have claimed.
The actor is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Halyna Hutchins. If convicted, he could spend up to 18 months in jail and be fined up to $5,000 (£3,940). Ahead of his July 9 trial, prosecutors have levelled a series of allegations against Baldwin that he could not control his emotions during the filming of the Western movie.
Hutchins, 42, was accidentally shot on the set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in October 2021 with a gun that Baldwin was holding. The 66-year-old has pleaded not guilty and always proclaimed he never pulled the trigger on the Colt .45 that fired the live bullet.
Hutchins, 42, was accidentally shot on the set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in October 2021 (Halyna Hutchins/Instagram)New Mexico prosecutors claim the actor was “inattentive” during firearms training and “frequently screaming and cursing” on the set before the firing of a live round. As well as killing Hutchins, the bullet also injured director Joel Souza.
”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 affects those around him,” prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis wrote.
Alec Baldwin accused of 'wilful disregard for others' safety' before Rust death
”Witnesses have testified that it was this exact conduct that contributed to safety compromises on set.” Prosecutors also accused Baldwin of having “lied shamelessly” and repeatedly “changed his story” about the shooting, allegedly attempting to pass responsibility for Hutchins’ death to others.
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The 66-year-old has pleaded not guilty and always proclaimed he never pulled the trigger (ABC)Baldwin’s lawyers accused the prosecutors of misconduct in their motion to dismiss the indictment last month. They alleged they had “publicly dragged Baldwin through the cesspool created by their improprieties.”
”Enough is enough,” the attorneys wrote at the time. “This is an abuse of the system and an abuse of an innocent person whose rights have been trampled to the extreme.”
The Rust movie armourer Hannah Gutierrez, 26, was found guilty last month of involuntary manslaughter and faces up to 18 months in prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for next week.