(Los Angeles) Alec Baldwin “blatantly lied” to clear himself of the fatal shooting that cost the life of the director of photography of his western Rustand his negligence compromised the safety of the filming, prosecutors responsible for the case said.
The filming of this film turned into a drama in October 2021 on a ranch in New Mexico, in the southwest of the United States.
Alec Baldwin had aimed a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets, but a very real projectile had killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.
Accused of manslaughter, the actor risks up to 18 months in prison. He maintains that he was assured that his weapon was harmless and his defense is trying to have his trial, scheduled for July, canceled.
He also denies having pulled the trigger, which is “absurd at first glance”, insist the prosecutors responsible for the case, in documents published Monday, calling for the continuation of the trial. An FBI investigation concluded that the gun held by the actor could not have fired without pulling the trigger.
The actor “blatantly lied about his behavior” on set, changing his version to avoid any responsibility, prosecutors continue.
In his first interrogation with the police, the actor does not maintain that the weapon went off on its own, nor that Mme Hutchins told him to point the gun at her. These elements are part of a “narrative” that Mr. Baldwin subsequently developed in the American media, they note.
Prosecutors criticize the attitude of the actor, who was also a producer on Rust. According to witnesses, “he yelled regularly” at everyone and wanted to finish the film faster.
“Mr. Balwin’s pressure on the crew on set regularly compromised security,” the prosecution said, criticizing “a man who has no control over his emotions.”
The film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of manslaughter in early March. His sentence is due to be pronounced on Monday.
According to the prosecution, his repeated negligence allowed the introduction of live ammunition on the set, in defiance of all the rules of the film industry.
“The combination of Hannah Gutierrez’s negligence and inexperience and Alec Baldwin’s complete lack of concern for the safety of those around him proved deadly,” prosecutors charge.
This rare news item shocked Hollywood and provoked calls to ban firearms on sets.
The filming of Rust had picked up several months later and ended in Montana, with Halyna Hutchins’ widower Matthew serving as executive producer.
At the end of 2022, he abandoned the civil proceedings he had initiated against Alec Baldwin at the end of an agreement the amount of which was not disclosed.