(Los Angeles) American actor Alec Baldwin on Friday accused prosecutors, who charged him with the fatal shooting on a set in 2021, of having made a “basic error of law” on an aggravating circumstance against him.
On October 21, 2021, this filming on a ranch in New Mexico (southwestern United States) had turned tragic when Mr. Baldwin had activated a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets, but including a very real projectile killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, and injured director Joel Souza.
This rare news item had shocked Hollywood and had a strong impact, triggering calls to ban firearms on the sets, where the presence of live ammunition is in theory already prohibited.
Alec Baldwin is being prosecuted in New Mexico for manslaughter and faces an 18-month prison sentence, just like the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. The actor is notably targeted by an aggravating circumstance – which concerns him because of the use of a firearm – which makes him risk up to five years behind bars.
But in a court document dated Friday, Mr. Baldwin’s lawyers believe that the aggravating circumstance cited by the prosecution was not in effect as such in New Mexico law at the time of the events, and should therefore be dropped. .
The lawyers of M.me Gutierrez-Reed said they would be filing a similar request soon, according to variety. A hearing for both is scheduled for February 24.
Alec Baldwin is also the subject of a civil complaint from the Ukrainian parents and the victim’s sister, the family lawyer announced on Thursday.
Mr. Baldwin, 64, known in particular for his role in the series 30Rock, has always claimed his innocence. According to him, he was assured that his weapon was harmless, and he denies having pulled the trigger. An assertion questioned by many experts.