Baldwin was holding the Colt .45 revolver during production rehearsals in October 2021 when it fired, injuring cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died shortly thereafter.
New Mexico’s first judicial district attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies, announced in early January that there was enough evidence to file criminal charges against the American actor.
“Today we have taken another important step to ensure justice for Halyna Hutchins,” Carmack-Altwies said Tuesday. “In New Mexico no one is above the law, and there will be justice.”
The film’s weapons manager, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was also indicted Tuesday in the same case.
If convicted, both could face up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. Aggravated by use of weapons could raise that sentence up to five years, according to the US legal framework.
Baldwin, 64, has repeatedly claimed that the props told him the gun was not loaded before handing it over and that he did not pull the trigger. His lawyer, Luke Nikas, has said he will challenge the accusation, which he called a “terrible miscarriage”.
Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers said Tuesday that prosecutors “misunderstood the facts” and reached “the wrong conclusions.”
“We will fight these charges and look forward to the jury finding Hannah not guilty,” Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion said in a statement.
On the other hand, assistant director Dave Halls, who handed Baldwin the revolver on set and told him it was “cold” (movie slang for a safe weapon to use), did not contest the negligent use charge. of a deadly weapon.
Your settlement will be open to the public after a judge approves it.
Baldwin, one of the film’s co-producers, and Gutierrez-Reed were charged with two alternate counts of manslaughter with varying degrees of negligence.
New Mexico prosecutors will ask the defendants to appear in court within a month.