- Baldwin faces 18 months if convicted of one count of involuntary manslaughter
- He accidentally killed Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust in October 2021
Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter by a New Mexico grand jury, more than two years after accidentally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his ill-fated western film Rust.
The indictment was returned on Friday and charges Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter on the grounds of negligent use of a firearm and disregard for others’ safety.
If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
Previous charges, filed by New Mexico prosecutors, were dismissed in April last year.
Alec Baldwin (pictured in November) was today indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on involuntary manslaughter charges
The grand jury indictment charges Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter on the grounds of negligent use of a firearm and disregard for others’ safety
In a statement today, Baldwin’s attorneys Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas said: ‘We look forward to our day in court.’
Baldwin has always maintained that he followed gun safety laws, and that the fault lies with the armorer or crew who handed him a gun loaded with a live round.
He insists he confirmed that the gun was ‘cold’ when he took it to rehearse the scene in question.
Baldwin was practicing drawing the prop weapon from his holster when he claims it fired spontaneously.
He has always been adamant that he did not pull the trigger.
But a new report by Lucien Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona states that the trigger ‘had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.’
The long-drawn-out legal fiasco began with Hutchins’ death in October.
Alec Baldwin and Halyna Hutchins, along with other cast, are pictured on the Rust set
Baldwin in his initial police interview on the day of the accident. He has always maintained that he did not pull the trigger
Baldwin launched a media tour, insisting it was a tragic accident and not a killing he was responsible for.
He was initially charged in January 2023 by First Judicial District Attorney of New Mexico Mary Carmack-Altwies, who launched her own media tour soon after filing charges.
Baldwin’s team interpreted her enthusiasm for the case as a fame-hungry effort to boost her own career.
After hashing it out with his team in the court of public opinion, Carmack-Altwies stepped down from the case and a special prosecutor was appointed to take over.
In April last year, that team opted to drop the charges and Baldwin, who had already settled a wrongful death lawsuit launched by Hutchins’ family, breathed a sigh of relief.
In the aftermath of Hutchins’ death, Baldwin gave an emotional interview where he insisted he was not to blame
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital