Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin, who was charged with manslaughter in a gun accident that occurred on set, is cleared of the charges.
According to American media outlets Deadline and Variety on the 20th (local time), Alec Baldwin was scheduled to appear in court on May 3. However, the indictment was dropped and no trial was held. According to sources, Alec Baldwin's lawyers recently presented evidence to prosecutors that influenced their decision to drop charges.
Alec Baldwin practiced shooting a pistol scene during rehearsals on the set of the movie 'Rust' in New Mexico in October 2021. When Alec Baldwin fired a live bullet, not a blank bullet, from the pistol he was carrying, cinematographer Harleyna Hutchins, who was across from him, was hit in the chest and died.
Prosecutors in New Mexico charged Alec Baldwin and weapons prop manager Hannah Cuttierrez Reed with manslaughter in January of last year. Alec Baldwin claimed that Reed did not properly check that the prop gun was loaded with live ammunition and that the accident occurred because assistant director Dave Halls told him that the gun in question was a blank bullet.
Alec Baldwin's lawyers said in a statement they were satisfied with the outcome. “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident,” the attorneys said.
Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr