Alec Baldwin faces two involuntary manslaughter counts over his accidental shooting of “Rust” armorer Halyna Hutchins. While he and his legal team insist the charges are ridiculous, the New Mexico DA prosecuting him is taking the situation very seriously, In fact, that DA might have even managed to convince another crew member to testify.
That would be the assistant director on the Sante Fe film set for “Rust,” David Halls. Halls is important to the case because he was also charged but has also already pleaded guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon. That plea was part of a plea agreement. So now he could be one of 45 potential witnesses testifying about the situation in an upcoming preliminary hearing. Fox News Digital, reporting on that, said:
Halls is one of 45 witnesses who could be called at a preliminary hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
Director Joel Souza, who was injured when Baldwin allegedly fired the prop gun that killed the 42-year-old mother of two, is also on the witness list.
Another potential problem for Baldwin is that the prosecution seems ready to rebut one of his legal team’s main claims, which is that the gun-enhancement charge in the case is a “basic legal error,” arguing that the prior version of the statute is what matters here, not the current version. Fox News Digital reported on that as well, saying:
The prosecution team also intends to address the defense’s allegation that they made a “basic legal error” when they tacked on five-year gun enhancements that weren’t on the books at the time of the “Rust” shooting
“That version of the statute could not apply to conduct that occurred before it was enacted,” wrote the defense team, led by attorney Luke Nikas.
Baldwin’s legal team exploded after charges against him were brought, saying “This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set. He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win.”
When the DA announced that Alec Baldwin would be facing criminal charges for the shooting, she said, in a post on Facebook:
“After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the ‘Rust’ film crew,” Carmack-Altwies said. “On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice.”
Continuing, the DA went on to say:
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