Alec Baldwin is expected to have the manslaughter charges against him dropped by prosecutors in the death of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer on the set of “Rust,” according to sources confirmed on Thursday.
In a statement released on Thursday evening, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis stated that new facts had come to light, making it impossible to proceed with the charges against Baldwin within the allotted time. They emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing, and charges could potentially be refiled in the future.
Baldwin’s lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, expressed satisfaction with the outcome in their own statement, saying, “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.”
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Baldwin was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in January for the accidental shooting that occurred on the set of “Rust” in October 2021. If convicted, he could have faced up to 18 months in prison. Prosecutors alleged that Baldwin negligently fired his Colt .45 during a scene setup at the Bonanza Creek Ranch. However, Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger and was unaware that the gun could contain a live round.
Recent evidence presented by Baldwin’s lawyers to the prosecutors reportedly influenced the decision to drop the charges. The evidence indicated that the Colt .45 had been modified before the shooting, making it difficult for the District Attorney to prove that Baldwin had pulled the trigger.
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The charges against Baldwin will be dropped “without prejudice,” which means that the case could potentially be refiled later, possibly with a lesser charge. Morrissey and Lewis stated in their statement that new facts were revealed during preparation for a preliminary hearing that require further investigation and forensic analysis.
The involuntary manslaughter charges against Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer who loaded Baldwin’s weapon, remain unchanged, according to the prosecutors. Gutierrez Reed’s lawyers, Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion, welcomed the diligent and thorough approach of the new special prosecutor team and predicted that their client would also be ultimately vindicated, saying, “The truth about what happened will come out and the questions that we have long sought answers for will be answered. We fully expect at the end of this process that Hannah will also be exonerated.”
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