Alec Baldwin Had ‘No Control’ Over His Emotions Before Shooting ‘Rust’ Cinematographer
Alec Baldwin had “no control” over his emotions and “no concern” for others on the Rust film set before the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, according to prosecutors.
Baldwin is set to go on trial in July on a charge of involuntary manslaughter for his part in Hutchins’ death on the Rust film set in Santa Fe, New Mexico in October 2021.
Baldwin was rehearsing on the movie set with a gun that was not supposed to contain live ammunition. However, the actor’s gun suddenly fired a live round, killing the cinematographer and injuring the western film’s director Joel Souza.
He Had ‘Absolutely No Concern’ For Those Around Him
New Mexico state prosecutors plan to argue that Baldwin was unable to control his emotions on the Rust set which led to the safety failures that resulted in Hutchins’ death.
Prosecutors also allege that the actor shamelessly lied and changed his story about the fatal shooting.
According to Variety, prosecutor Kari Morrissey laid out the allegations against Baldwin in unprecedented detail in a 32-page filing made public on Monday.
“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,” Morrissey writes in the filing.
“Witnesses have testified that it was this exact conduct that contributed to safety compromises on set.”
‘Lies’ and a Documentary
The prosecutors also argue that Baldwin set about deflecting responsibility after Hutchins was killed, including by claiming that he pulled the hammer but not the trigger on the reproduction Colt .45 gun — a contention that the prosecutor calls “absurd.”
“Every time Mr Baldwin spoke, a different version of events emerged from his mouth, and his later statements contradicted his previous statements,” Morrisey writes.
The latest filing additionally revealed that New Mexico prosecutors had offered Baldwin a misdemeanor plea deal last year. But, that offer was rescinded when prosecutors learned that Baldwin was planning a documentary about Hutchins — and was “actively pressuring material witnesses in the case” to be interviewed for it.
Baldwin has long maintained that he should not be held responsible for the shooting and has pleaded not guilty in the upcoming trial.
However, last month, Rust movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for her part in Hutchins’ death. The weapons handler who loaded Baldwin’s gun on the film set before it fired and killed Hutchins, now faces up to 18 months in prison.
Update 4/10: A previous version of this article mistakenly stated that Halyna Hutchins died in 2011. It has been amended to clarify that it happened in 2021.
