Baldwin cleared in "Rust" case, civil lawsuits pending
Over three years after the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie "Rust," the criminal case against Alec Baldwin has finally been concluded.
The case involving Alec Baldwin captured attention in the United States and worldwide. The first trial ended in a victory for the actor's lawyers, who successfully argued that key evidence in the case of Halyna Hutchins' death had been withheld from them. Prosecutor Kari Morrissey attempted to reopen the case regarding involuntary manslaughter. However, on Monday, the office of New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez decided not to pursue an appeal on behalf of the prosecution. Baldwin will no longer face trial about the incident on the "Rust" set.
Alec Baldwin was to answer for the death of the film's cinematographer
The dismissal of the appeal serves as a definitive validation of Alec Baldwin's longstanding assertion, supported by his legal team, that while the incident was an unimaginable tragedy, he did not commit any crime, according to his lead attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, on Monday.
Despite this, Baldwin is not yet completely free from legal challenges. Several civil lawsuits related to the shooting are currently ongoing in California and New Mexico courts. Meanwhile, as demonstrated by his recent "Saturday Night Live appearance, the Emmy Award winner is returning to his professional activities. Next year, Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria, are set to appear in a reality show with their seven children.
Halyna Hutchins was killed on October 21, 2021, when a Colt .45 held by Baldwin during a rehearsal on the "Rust" set discharged live ammunition. Director Joel Souza was injured. Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were charged with involuntary manslaughter. In April, Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in state prison. Many anticipated Baldwin would face a similar outcome.
Despite numerous investigations and trials, it remains unclear how live ammunition found its way onto the set. Prosecutors, lawyers, and witnesses were unable to determine the exact reason for the presence of real bullets during the filming.
