One of the lawyers for the victim’s family believes in particular that a dummy revolver should have been used rather than an operational weapon.
Article written by
Published
Reading time : 1 min.
The family of filmmaker Halyna Hutchins, killed by the accidental shooting of a revolver on the set of the western Rust, filed a complaint on Tuesday February 15 against actor Alec Baldwin, announced his lawyers, who are seeking damages “substantial”.
At the time of the tragedy, on October 21 on a ranch in Santa Fe (New Mexico), Alec Baldwin was handling a revolver while working on a scene with cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. She had been presented with the weapon as harmless because it was supposed to contain only dummy bullets but the shot was fired, mortally wounding the 42-year-old filmmaker.
Brian Panish, who represents the husband and son of Halyna Hutchins, notably questioned during a press conference on Tuesday the “dangerous behavior” by Alec Baldwin. He also accused the cost-saving measures decided by the actor and the other producers of the low-budget western of having resulted in the death of Halyna Hutchins.
The lawyer believes in particular that a dummy revolver should have been used rather than an operational weapon and that there was no individual qualified to handle firearms at the time of the accident. He finally deplored the fact that the team was not equipped with protective equipment, as is the case during the filming of certain scenes requiring the firing of blank cartridges.
Asked how much compensation the family would seek, Brian Panish said: “we think it will be substantial”. This complaint is in addition to many other civil proceedings already initiated in recent months by members of the film crew.