Alec Baldwin is due back in court following the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins. The cinematographer and mum-of-one, 42, died on the set of the actor’s film, Rust, in 2021 when a live round was discharged from a revolver that Baldwin, 68, was using as a prop.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico stated that neither Baldwin nor first assistant director David Halls knew that the gun in question was loaded.
On January 31, 2023, the district attorney charged Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with one count each of involuntary manslaughter. Halls agreed to plead guilty to the charge of the negligent use of a deadly weapon.
On February 23, 2023, Baldwin pleaded not guilty, and on April 20, it was reported that prosecutors had indicated that the charges against him were being dropped.
However, on Friday, April 17, a Los Angeles judge ruled that a lawsuit filed by Rust crew member Serge Svetnoy against the actor will proceed.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maurice Leiter ruled that a lawsuit brought by Svetnoy will proceed to determine if Baldwin negligently fired a loaded revolver on the film set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, which struck and killed the mother, according to Mail Online.
Back in October, manslaughter charges were dismissed by a New Mexico judge after she determined that prosecutors allegedly withheld evidence.
Now, Svetnoy is suing the film’s star and production company for emotional distress suffered due to alleged negligence on set.
Prior to the shooting, several crew members reportedly walked off set, citing safety concerns, including two previous accidental discharges of prop guns.
Baldwin, who fired the fatal shot from a prop revolver, has always maintained that he had no idea the gun was loaded with live rounds and denied ever pulling the trigger. The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured in the shooting.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Svetnoy’s attorney, John M. Upton, said they were ‘pleased with the Court’s decision to deny the motions for summary judgment brought by Rust Movie Productions and Alex Baldwin.
‘These rulings enable our client to present his case at a jury trial, now scheduled for October of this year,’ he added. ‘He looks forward to finally having his day in court on this long-pending matter. ‘
The Mirror has contacted Baldwin’s rep for comment. https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/alec-baldwin-face-civil-trial-37035607
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