Alec Baldwin’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, has assured this Thursday that the state of New Mexico (USA) destroyed the firearm that ended the life of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film’s recordings Rust.
“I don’t think the court is aware of this, but I must tell the court that the firearm in this case, which is very important, it was destroyed by the state, that’s a problem“, Spiro explained in a virtual view.
The lawyer has asked the attorney for the district of Santa Fe (New Mexico, USA), Mary Carmack-Altwies and the judge Mary Marlowe Summer to be allowed to see the firearm or “what is left of it”, as well as the other evidence of the case.
Spiro has also requested that he be authorized to visit the property where the events occurred and that he be provided with the list of the 46 witnesses that the district plans to contact in order to match work schedules.
The actor has always denied his responsibility in the tragedy
Baldwin and “Rust” gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were indicted Jan. 31 on two counts of manslaughter for the tragedy that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of that film.
In February, the prosecutor’s office eliminated the aggravating circumstance of the crime that had also been charged against them and that reduced the maximum sentence that both could achievefrom five years to 18 months in jail.
At the hearing this Thursday, the judge set for on March 27 a new hearing in which the request of Baldwin’s lawyers to recuse the special prosecutor appointed for the case, Andrea Reeb, will be reviewed.
The defense alleges that Reeb is not fit to take over this case because she is a state legislator. will also take place a preview from May 3 to May 17in which prosecutors will try to show that there is enough evidence to prosecute Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin as allegedly responsible for the death of Hutchins.
Baldwin has always denied any responsibility for the tragedy, which occurred on October 21, 2021, when he fired a prop weapon containing live ammunition, despite the fact that this type of bullet is prohibited on set, killing Hutchins and injuring the director. of the film, Joel Souza.
On February 14, it was announced that filming for “Rust” is scheduled to resume in the spring. Baldwin will continue to play the leading role in the film and the scene where Hutchins lost his life will be rewrittenbut the producer has not given more details about it.