Actor Alec Baldwin has been indicted by a grand jury in New Mexico for the second time on charges of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."
Prosecutors had initially dismissed charges against Baldwin based on evidence the hammer of the revolver might been modified, allowing it to fire without the trigger being pulled. The single-page indictment filed with the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe charges Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter under two alternative bases of law - causing death by "negligent use of a firearm" and by acting "without due caution or circumspection," said Reuters.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey said she would file new charges against Baldwin if the independent test showed the reproduction long Colt .45 revolver was in "working condition."
Friday's indictment followed an independent forensic test concluding that Baldwin would have had to pull the trigger of a revolver he was using in a rehearsal for it to fire the live round that killed Hutchins. The finding was the same as a previous FBI test on the firearm.
Baldwin's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, issued a statement on Friday on behalf of their client saying, "We look forward to our day in court," published Reuters.
Some Background
People Magazine reported Gloria Allred, an attorney for Hutchin's family responded to the indictment saying, "Our clients have always sought the truth about what happened on the day that Halyna Hutchins was tragically shot and killed on October 21, 2021. They continue to seek the truth in our civil lawsuit for them and they also would like there to be accountability in the criminal justice system.
Added Allred, "The grand jury has decided that there is sufficient evidence to indict Alec Baldwin on the charge of involuntary manslaughter. We are looking forward to the criminal trial which will determine if he should be convicted for the untimely death of Halyna."
Movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was also previously charged with involuntary manslaughter. She has pled not guilty and is set to stand trial in February.
Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger and claims he was not responsible for the cinematographer's death.
