Alec Baldwin manslaughter charge to be dropped

Prosecutors in the southwestern US state of New Mexico on Thursday said they will drop charges of involuntary manslaughter against Alec Baldwin.

"New facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis," special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said. "We will therefore be dismissing the involuntary manslaughter charges against Mr. Baldwin."

The charges brought against Baldwin were in relation to the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film "Rust."

"We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident," said Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro.

What happened on the set of 'Rust'?

The actor was holding a Colt .45 gun during rehearsals when it discharged,  killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.Charges of involuntary manslaughter against Alec Baldwin.

Director Joel Souza was wounded in the incident. He was standing behind Hutchins at the time.

In January, Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins' death and Souza's injury.

Baldwin said he cocked the revolver but never pulled the trigger. He also argued it was the responsibility of weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and other professionals to ensure the gun was not loaded.

Investigators have not been able to determine how live rounds ended up on the set of the film.

What else do we know about the case?

In February, the charges against Baldwin were downgraded, with prosecutors dropping a so-called "firearm enhancement" that carried a potential five-year jail sentence.

Baldwin's attorneys said that prosecutors had committed a "basic legal error" under the firearm-enhancement statue, as it did not exist at the time of the shooting.

Also in February, the producers of "Rust"  were fined $100,000 (€91,000) for "serious" security breaches on set.

Last October, Baldwin settled a lawsuit with the cinematographer's husband, Matt Hutchins. The settlement made Hutchins an executive producer on the film.

Assistant director Dave Halls was sentenced last month to a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Gutierrez-Reed also faces manslaughter charges and has pleaded not guilty.

Filming of "Rust" was due to resume this week in the northern US state of Montana.

sdi/sms (AFP, Reuters, AP)