************Alec Baldwin: Shooting on the Set of His Movie Kills One, Injures Second During Scene**********
- Thread starter OutlawR.O.C.
- Start date
Who’s fault is it then?
God-Of-War-420
Mr. Pool
Seems like an unfortunate accident to me, I think the family should be heavily compensated, Hell I can almost see why they charged the person who loaded it improperly but I just don't see how you could charge the actor. To be fair I've only done surface level research into this case so I could be missing key details as to why alec was charged.
I think he's being charged because of his role as a producer.
The person who gave him the gun who was supposed to know the difference in a live round and a blank.
Hollyweird wants to destroy him cause ain't no way he should be charged he's just an actor not the prop person.
If they can't destroy you they will try to break you,this alone,court will be a circus and paying lawyers....
I wonder did he piss off a lot of people?
If they can't destroy you they will try to break you,this alone,court will be a circus and paying lawyers....
I wonder did he piss off a lot of people?
It's basic gun safety that should be emphasized AND enforced on any movie set where any kind of firearms are being handled. The #1 rule of firearm safety is to treat all guns as if they're loaded at all times. If handed a gun, it becomes your responsibility to check for yourself whether it's loaded or not and handle the item accordingly. At the end of the day it's negligence that ended with an unfortunate result. The armorer deserves the most blame but Baldwin has to accept some responsibility as well.
This!
Also, he never really showed remorse, sympathy and humility it seems. Always a defiant attitude about it all. One mistake that was made was that he didn't shut up. He was all in the media about what he didn't do wrong.
Going to be very tricky case, if he’s the producer and whatever procedures was suppose to be taken. Could be a problem, on the other hand if it was my daughter. I’m think way different and fight to have him charged.
Why the ‘Bold’ Prosecution of Alec Baldwin Could End in Disaster
Prosecutors face an uphill battle, legal experts told The Daily Beast, as long as lawyers for the outspoken Baldwin can “sit on his chest until this plays out.”
www.thedailybeast.com
Baldwin Vows He’ll Beat ‘Terrible’ Involuntary Manslaughter Charges
A New Mexico prosecutor said Thursday that criminal charges will be filed against Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed for the fatal shooting on the set of “Rust.”
www.thedailybeast.com
The fam of the victim will be covertly looking for vengeance for many decades down the road either against him or his wife/kids. I would serve some prison time to ease some tension, just saying it was an accident won't cut it. It is not like he won't be able to get a job or housing as a felon.
The same thing happened to OJ Simpson, and some of these cops.
Baldwin has already reached a settlement with the victims family.
Seems the prosecutor is out to get one of those what he calls Hollywood elites and up his profile in the process. Instead of focusing almost solely on Baldwin why hasn't he pursued a line of investigaton to determine who brought a live round onto the set to begin with. This is a show trial and Baldwin will be acquitted imo.
Seems the prosecutor is out to get one of those what he calls Hollywood elites and up his profile in the process. Instead of focusing almost solely on Baldwin why hasn't he pursued a line of investigaton to determine who brought a live round onto the set to begin with. This is a show trial and Baldwin will be acquitted imo.
Baldwin has already reached a settlement with the victims family.
Seems the prosecutor is out to get one of those what he calls Hollywood elites and up his profile in the process. Instead of focusing almost solely on Baldwin why hasn't he pursued a line of investigaton to determine who brought a live round onto the set to begin with. This is a show trial and Baldwin will be acquitted imo.
I agree for the most part but his acquittal will depend on the jury their able to seat (especially if it's in a area that's heavily Republican/MAGA) and whether Alec can keep his mouth shut allow his defense team to do their job.
He already fucked up by doing interviews discussing this knowing it was still being investigated. Moving forward anything he says about this case should be done via his lawyers and a spokesperson.
Alec Baldwin lawyer calls 'Rust' shooting charges 'miscarriage of justice'
Alec Baldwin's attorney has called the criminal charges the actor is facing in the death of 'Rust' cinematographer Halyna Hutchins 'a terrible miscarriage of justice.'
Alec Baldwin lawyer calls 'Rust' shooting charges 'miscarriage of justice'
Alec Baldwin's attorney has called the criminal charges the actor is facing in the death of 'Rust' cinematographer Halyna Hutchins 'a terrible miscarriage of justice.'
Joy Behar suggests political conspiracy over Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' charges
'The View' host Joy Behar suggested a Republican political conspiracy after forthcoming charges were announced for Alec Baldwin in the deadly 'Rust' shooting.
Joy Behar suggests political conspiracy over Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' charges
'The View' host Joy Behar suggested a Republican political conspiracy after forthcoming charges were announced for Alec Baldwin in the deadly 'Rust' shooting.ew.com
Joy Behar Forced to Correct Her Bogus Conspiracy About Alec Baldwin's ‘Rust’ Charges
Behar suggested Baldwin only faces charges for the “Rust” shooting because the DA is a “big Republican”—which is not true.
www.thedailybeast.com
After prosecutors announced charges against Alec Baldwin for film set shooting, experts say they could be making a 'strange play' to 'threaten' him into taking a plea deal
Prosecutors announced Thursday that they plan to charge Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in cinematography Halyna Hutchins' death.
www.insider.com
Alec Baldwin's legal team moves to disqualify special prosecutor overseeing 'Rust' case | CNN
An attorney for actor Alec Baldwin filed a motion Tuesday to disqualify special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, who is overseeing the "Rust" shooting case.
Alec Baldwin’s legal team moves to disqualify special prosecutor overseeing ‘Rust’ case
By Chloe Melas and Josh Campbell, CNN
Updated 5:27 PM EST, Tue February 7, 2023
A photo of the scene of the shooting on the set of the movie 'Rust' in Santa Fe, New Mexico, released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.
Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office/AFP via Getty Images
CNN —
An attorney for actor Alec Baldwin filed a motion Tuesday to disqualify special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, who is overseeing the “Rust” shooting case.
The filing states that Reeb’s participation in the case is “unconstitutional” under New Mexico law due to her elected position in the New Mexico House of Representatives.
CNN has obtained the documents which were filed Tuesday in the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico.
“The special prosecutor in this case, Andrea Reeb, is a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Under Section 1 of Article III of the New Mexico Constitution, however, a sitting member of the Legislature may not ‘exercise any powers properly belonging’ to either the executive or judicial branch,” the motion states.
Baldwin’s motion argues that Reeb’s position constitutes a violation of the state constitution’s separation of powers provision and that she could “make prosecutorial decisions that serve her legislative interests.”
Last month, Baldwin was criminally charged in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.” The charges against Baldwin and the set’s armorer, Hannah Guiterrez Reed, included two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Attorneys for both defendants have insisted their respective clients are innocent.
On Tuesday, Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney’s office released a statement in response to the motion: “Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys can use whatever tactics they want to distract from the fact that Halyna Hutchins died because of more than mere negligence on the ‘Rust’ film set. However, the district attorney and the special prosecutor will remain focused on the evidence and on trying this case so that justice is served.”
In an interview in January, Reeb told CNN that her prosecutorial decisions were not impacted by politics.
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“Everybody’s equal under the law. It doesn’t matter if he’s a liberal Democrat and I’m a conservative Republican,” she said. “My job has always been to prosecute crimes and hold defendants accountable and help victims. In this case it’s no different.”
@Helico-pterFunk
www.cnbc.com
Alec Baldwin sued by Halyna Hutchins' family over fatal 'Rust' movie shooting
Alec Baldwin is being sued by Halyna Hutchins' family weeks after the actor was charged with manslaughter in the "Rust" movie set shooting.
@Helico-pterFunk
the soon to come documentary on this will be 10X better than anything they can salvalge form this.
Alec Baldwin Will Resume Filming Rust This Spring
By Zoe Guy, a news writer who covers film, TV, music, and celebrities
Alec Baldwin. Photo: Jim Spellman/Getty Images
Nearly a year and a half since the shooting on the set of Alec Baldwin’s film Rust killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, producers say it’s time for the show to go on. Production on the embattled western will resume this spring, per The Hollywood Reporter. The news comes after a particularly difficult month for the prolific Hollywood star. While Baldwin reportedly prepares for his return to acting and executive-producing duties on the Joel Souza–directed film, he must also prepare for a myriad of legal battles. New Mexico prosecutors charged the actor with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on January 31. One of the counts includes a firearm enhancement, meaning Baldwin faces a five-year minimum jail sentence if convicted (his lawyers dispute the firearm enhancement, arguing that it is an “unconstitutional and elementary legal error”). Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s on-set armorer at the time, faces similar charges. Days later, on February 9, the family of Hutchins filed a new lawsuit against Baldwin and Rust Productions in the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and loss of consortium, or the damages recovered for the rupture of relationships that are mutually dependent. Where does Rust go from here? Everything we know, below.
Who is involved from the original production?
Both old and new crewmembers will return to production, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bianca Cline steps in as director of photography in Hutchins’s stead with widow Matthew Hutchins’s “blessing and support.” The cinematographer, known for her work in Marcel the Shell With Shoes On and American Horror Story, will reportedly donate her salary from the movie to charity. Baldwin still has scenes left to film, though his return is unclear.
Noticeably absent is Gutierrez-Reed, the on-set armorer who, together with Baldwin, faces criminal charges for her role in the shooting. Also absent is former assistant director Dave Halls, who signed a plea deal in the criminal case over the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. In fact, producers have not yet named an armorer, props master, and assistant director for the upcoming filming. As for an ammunition supplier, there will be no such role. The shoot will no longer use working weapons, making that job unnecessary. Enhanced safety protocols will be enforced, per THR.
Other key members have signed on to complete the film, however. Director and writer Joel Souza, who was injured in the shooting, will return to set. “Though bittersweet, I am grateful that a brilliant and dedicated new production team joining former cast and crew are committed to completing what Halyna and I started,” Souza said in a statement. “My every effort on this film will be devoted to honoring Halyna’s legacy and making her proud. It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf.” All of the original producers will resume their roles.
A lawyer for Rust Movie Productions says the scene that was being rehearsed when Hutchins was fatally shot has been rewritten, though she did not comment on the changes. Vulture has reached out to the production company for comment.
What does Halyna Hutchins’s family have to say about Rust resuming filming?
Hutchins’s husband, Matthew, supports the production resuming. Following the settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit over the shooting last October, the deal agreed to continue filming with Hutchins’s blessing. Under the deal, he also serves as an executive producer on the film. The late cinematographer’s mother, father, and sister are not involved in the project and have an active lawsuit that names the production company, Baldwin, Gutierrez-Reed, and more.
When will it be released?
Rust does not have a release date at this point. Though filming is set to resume this spring, it is unclear if or how the pending lawsuits will affect the schedule.
the soon to come documentary on this will be 10X better than anything they can salvalge form this.
Alec Baldwin Will Resume Filming Rust This Spring
By Zoe Guy, a news writer who covers film, TV, music, and celebrities
Alec Baldwin. Photo: Jim Spellman/Getty Images
Nearly a year and a half since the shooting on the set of Alec Baldwin’s film Rust killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, producers say it’s time for the show to go on. Production on the embattled western will resume this spring, per The Hollywood Reporter. The news comes after a particularly difficult month for the prolific Hollywood star. While Baldwin reportedly prepares for his return to acting and executive-producing duties on the Joel Souza–directed film, he must also prepare for a myriad of legal battles. New Mexico prosecutors charged the actor with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on January 31. One of the counts includes a firearm enhancement, meaning Baldwin faces a five-year minimum jail sentence if convicted (his lawyers dispute the firearm enhancement, arguing that it is an “unconstitutional and elementary legal error”). Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s on-set armorer at the time, faces similar charges. Days later, on February 9, the family of Hutchins filed a new lawsuit against Baldwin and Rust Productions in the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and loss of consortium, or the damages recovered for the rupture of relationships that are mutually dependent. Where does Rust go from here? Everything we know, below.
Who is involved from the original production?
Both old and new crewmembers will return to production, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bianca Cline steps in as director of photography in Hutchins’s stead with widow Matthew Hutchins’s “blessing and support.” The cinematographer, known for her work in Marcel the Shell With Shoes On and American Horror Story, will reportedly donate her salary from the movie to charity. Baldwin still has scenes left to film, though his return is unclear.
Noticeably absent is Gutierrez-Reed, the on-set armorer who, together with Baldwin, faces criminal charges for her role in the shooting. Also absent is former assistant director Dave Halls, who signed a plea deal in the criminal case over the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. In fact, producers have not yet named an armorer, props master, and assistant director for the upcoming filming. As for an ammunition supplier, there will be no such role. The shoot will no longer use working weapons, making that job unnecessary. Enhanced safety protocols will be enforced, per THR.
Other key members have signed on to complete the film, however. Director and writer Joel Souza, who was injured in the shooting, will return to set. “Though bittersweet, I am grateful that a brilliant and dedicated new production team joining former cast and crew are committed to completing what Halyna and I started,” Souza said in a statement. “My every effort on this film will be devoted to honoring Halyna’s legacy and making her proud. It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf.” All of the original producers will resume their roles.
A lawyer for Rust Movie Productions says the scene that was being rehearsed when Hutchins was fatally shot has been rewritten, though she did not comment on the changes. Vulture has reached out to the production company for comment.
What does Halyna Hutchins’s family have to say about Rust resuming filming?
Hutchins’s husband, Matthew, supports the production resuming. Following the settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit over the shooting last October, the deal agreed to continue filming with Hutchins’s blessing. Under the deal, he also serves as an executive producer on the film. The late cinematographer’s mother, father, and sister are not involved in the project and have an active lawsuit that names the production company, Baldwin, Gutierrez-Reed, and more.
When will it be released?
Rust does not have a release date at this point. Though filming is set to resume this spring, it is unclear if or how the pending lawsuits will affect the schedule.
‘Rust’ D.A. Refutes Alec Baldwin Lawyer’s Claim Gun That Killed Halyna Hutchins Was Destroyed; “Can Be Used As Evidence” – Update
UPDATE, 4:35 PM: Alec Baldwin’s defense team are wrong that the gun that killed Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has been destroyed, says the Santa Fe District Attorney’s office. “The gun Alec Baldwin used in the shooting that killed Halyna Hutchins has not been destroyed by the state,”...
deadline.com
‘Rust’ D.A. Refutes Alec Baldwin Lawyer’s Claim Gun That Killed Halyna Hutchins Was Destroyed; “Can Be Used As Evidence” – Update
By Dominic Patten, Anthony D'Alessandro
March 9, 2023 4:35pm
Alec BaldwinMega
UPDATE, 4:35 PM: Alec Baldwin’s defense team are wrong that the gun that killed Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has been destroyed, says the Santa Fe District Attorney’s office.
“The gun Alec Baldwin used in the shooting that killed Halyna Hutchins has not been destroyed by the state,” asserts New Mexico First Judicial D.A. spokesperson Heather Brewer to Deadline today. “The gun is in evidence and is available for the defense to review,” she adds.
Earlier Thursday, Baldwin attorney Alex Spiro announced in a virtual hearing in the criminal case that the 1880s prop gun that contained the live ammo that Hutchins and wounded Rust director Joel Souza was “destroyed by the state.” The shocker of a statement went unchallenged and basically unacknowledged by Judge Mary Marlow Sommer, D.A. Mary Carmack-Altwies and others.
Now the D.A.’s office is attempting to clarify, with a little tea leave reading of their own.
“The defense’s unexpected statement in the status hearing today that the gun had been destroyed by the state may be a reference to a statement in the FBI’s July 2022 firearms testing report that said damage was done to internal components of the gun during the FBI’s functionality testing,” spokesperson Brewer postulated. “However, the gun still exists and can be used as evidence.”
Made public in August last year, the FBI report not only noted the mangling of the gun in question at the time, but also refuted Baldwin’s repeated assertions that he did not pull the trigger on the gun during the rehearsal on the indie Western. A preliminary examination a.k.a. minitrial set for early May could shed more light on the damaged and destroyed gulf between prosecutors and the defense.
PREVIOUSLY, 3:13 PM: The gun that killed Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021 has been “destroyed,” a lawyer for Alec Baldwin revealed Thursday.
RELATED STORY
Alec Baldwin To Skip Latest ‘Rust’ Hearing; Actor Gets Waiver From Judge Just Ahead Of Virtual Session On Fatal Shooting Criminal Case
Treated as almost an aside in a virtual hearing in the criminal case, attorney Alex Spiro told Judge Mary Marlow Sommer that the defense team recently learned that the 1880s prop gun that fatally shot Hutchins and wounded Rust director Joel Souza on the set of the indie Western is basically no more.
“The court, I don’t think is aware of this point, but I think I should tell the court that the firearm in this case, that’s a great subject of it, was destroyed by the state,” said Spiro, the Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan lawyer. “So, that’s obviously an issue and we’re going to need to see that firearm, or what’s left of it.”
Neither Sommer nor Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies responded to Spiro’s statement about the gun. With assertions from his lawyer that the absent Baldwin “wanted his day in court,” the brisk session moved on to setting dates for future hearings.
Baldwin’s defense team, the D.A.’s office and the attorney for co-defendant and ex-Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed did not respond to request for comment from Deadline on Spiro’s statement.
It is unclear whether the potentially hyperbolic Spiro was referring to damage that the gun suffered during FBI testing in the investigation of the tragedy on the Rust set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch. That testing resulted in the internal portions of the gun cracking and more, the bureau said. Released in August 2022, the FBI’s forensic report also stated that accidental discharge testing determined the .45 Colt (.45 Long Colt) caliber F.lli Pietta single-action revolver needed a trigger pull to fire.
Baldwin told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in a primetime interview soon after the October 21, 2021 death of Hutchins and has insisted on other occasions that he did not pull the trigger of the gun.
What is clear is the pivotal role as evidence the gun could play in the upcoming two-week preliminary examination set to start May 3 in the Land of Enchantment. If the judge agrees during that the prosecution has a strong enough case, the matter will move on to a formal trial later this year.
Following the release of an FBI-assisted investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office last November, Baldwin and Reed in January were formally charged by prosecutors with two counts of involuntary manslaughter over the killing of Hutchins.
With still no indication of how live ammo got on the set of the $7 million-budgeted indie Western, those charges initially included an enhancement that came with a mandatory five-year prison stint if Baldwin and/or Reed were found guilty. Under protest from the defendants’ attorneys that the charge was “unconstitutional,” Carmack-Altwies backtracked and dropped that enhancement on February 20.
In that context, the preliminary examination starting in early May, which is a minitrial in all but name, will see prosecutors put forth the gist of their case, as well as call witnesses from an already released list of 46 individuals including law enforcement officials, Rust crew members, and Souza and first assistant director David Halls, the latter of whom struck a plea agreement with the D.A. earlier this year. Also on that list is Halyna Hutchins’ husband, who settled a wrongful death suit with Baldwin and Rust producers last year and is to serve as an executive producer on the resurrected production of the indie Western
Noting that they had just received an email on their discovery requests, Baldwin’s NYC-based team asked for confirmation from prosecutors on who would actually be called as witnesses for the preliminary examination. “So we can make sure Mr. Baldwin has a fair opportunity to prepare for this, that the state identify the actual subset of witnesses that they intend to call,” Spiro said of the “roadmap” he wanted. “That will also allow us to notify and subpoena the necessary witnesses that we need, that they’re not calling or that we need to answer some of these allegations.”
Over some rebutting from Carmack-Altwies, who was suffering from technical glitches throughout today’s Google Meets-held hearing, Sommer agreed and set an April 17 deadline for prosecutors to provide their true witness list for the preliminary examination.
Before that, the participants will meet March 27 for a hearing on Baldwin’s and Reed’s motions to disqualify special prosecutor Andrea Reed. The defendants want the D.A.-appointed Reed removed from the case because of her dual role as a recently elected GOP New Mexico legislator. Carmack-Altwies has argued in recent court filings that there is no conflict of interest involving Reed, a former Ninth Judicial D.A.
@Helico-pterFunk
www.vulture.com
The Manslaughter Case Against Alec Baldwin Is Not Going Well at All
By Victoria Bekiempis
On March 14, yet another twist unfolded in the New Mexico manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin over the Rust set shooting when special prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced she was stepping down from her role. “After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down as special prosecutor in the Rust case. My priority in this case — and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career — has been justice for the victim,” Reeb said in a statement. “However, it has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for basic safety protocols [that] led to the death of Halyna Hutchins.”
Reeb also said, “I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.”
Reeb’s departure in the middle of a high-profile proceeding comes amid other legal plot turns that seem in Baldwin’s favor, raising questions about whether New Mexico prosecutors have enough to pursue the manslaughter case.
The tables started turning against Reeb in earnest when Baldwin’s attorneys filed paperwork last month arguing that Reeb should be removed from the case because she works as a state lawmaker. (She represents New Mexico in the House of Representatives.) Baldwin’s lawyers contended that it was unconstitutional for her to serve in another branch of government, per Reuters. There was a hearing scheduled for later this month to hear arguments over whether Reeb could serve. By leaving before the hearing, a legal defeat wasn’t handed down to Reeb. Still, it’s a definite victory for Baldwin and his team, who now have more control over the course of this case.
“They’re in full retreat mode right now, which is not what you want,” said Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers and a former federal prosecutor, of the prosecution’s current state. “You want to be on the offense and putting pressure on Baldwin and his lawyers. The tables are turned, and it’s the other way around.”
“Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense, and Baldwin’s on the offense,” Rahmani added.
Before Reeb announced she was stepping down, Baldwin’s attorneys successfully chipped away at other aspects of her case. Last week, Baldwin attorney Alex Spiro said in court that the gun at the center of this case had been “destroyed” by the state.
Prosecutors took issue with this description and insisted it had been “damaged” during FBI testing but could still be examined.
Regardless of how damaged or destroyed this firearm is, the fact remains that the literal smoking gun — a key piece of evidence for both teams — might not be usable. This could throw a major wrench into proceedings, considering that the gun used on set that day is pretty much the case. Baldwin has said he didn’t fire the gun, while the FBI has said he must have fired it.
“Everyone knows Alec Baldwin was holding the gun, there was no question,” said Rachel Fiset, defense attorney and co-founder of Los Angeles–based Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo, LLP, but “the fact that they don’t have the gun in pristine condition may make it even harder for the prosecution to prove whether he fired it or not.”
Before all of this drama went down, however, Baldwin secured his biggest legal win to date. After facing a gun-enhancement charge on one of the two involuntary-manslaughter counts Reeb charged him with, Baldwin’s lawyers successfully contended that he couldn’t be charged with the enhancement, arguing, “The prosecutors committed a basic legal error by charging Mr. Baldwin under a version of the firearm-enhancement statute that did not exist on the date of the accident.” Hutchins’s death was in October 2021, but the present version of this law did not go into effect until May of last year, ABC noted. If Baldwin were to be convicted on the gun-enhancement count, he would have faced a minimum five-year jail sentence.
The New Mexico prosecutors tossed the enhancement before a judge could decide the issue. The statement that accompanied the move was pointed. “In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust film set,” the prosecution said. “The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.” With the enhancement dropped, Baldwin faces a maximum of only 18 months in lockup if convicted.
Reeb’s replacement has not been revealed as of press time, and it’s not exactly a plum legal gig.
When Reeb’s replacement joins, they could reconsider some elements of the case. “If they’re getting somebody in to replace the DA that’s stepping down, that [new] DA might take a fresher look at the case and try to backpedal what’s been done,” Fiset explained. “Unfortunately for the prosecution, all of this legwork should have been done on the front end, but they were anxious to prosecute the case against Alec Baldin on fairly shaky grounds, so maybe they were ignoring the evidence they did and did not have.”
But the real question is this: “Who wants to jump on this sinking ship?” Rahmani asked. “They’ll always be known as the Marcia Clark or Christopher Darden, who lost a very high-profile case. It could be a career killer.”
The Manslaughter Case Against Alec Baldwin Is Not Going Well at All
With the lead prosecutor out and the position being deemed a “career killer,” the Rust case has taken a turn.
www.vulture.com
The Manslaughter Case Against Alec Baldwin Is Not Going Well at All
By Victoria Bekiempis
On March 14, yet another twist unfolded in the New Mexico manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin over the Rust set shooting when special prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced she was stepping down from her role. “After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down as special prosecutor in the Rust case. My priority in this case — and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career — has been justice for the victim,” Reeb said in a statement. “However, it has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for basic safety protocols [that] led to the death of Halyna Hutchins.”
Reeb also said, “I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.”
Reeb’s departure in the middle of a high-profile proceeding comes amid other legal plot turns that seem in Baldwin’s favor, raising questions about whether New Mexico prosecutors have enough to pursue the manslaughter case.
The tables started turning against Reeb in earnest when Baldwin’s attorneys filed paperwork last month arguing that Reeb should be removed from the case because she works as a state lawmaker. (She represents New Mexico in the House of Representatives.) Baldwin’s lawyers contended that it was unconstitutional for her to serve in another branch of government, per Reuters. There was a hearing scheduled for later this month to hear arguments over whether Reeb could serve. By leaving before the hearing, a legal defeat wasn’t handed down to Reeb. Still, it’s a definite victory for Baldwin and his team, who now have more control over the course of this case.
“They’re in full retreat mode right now, which is not what you want,” said Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers and a former federal prosecutor, of the prosecution’s current state. “You want to be on the offense and putting pressure on Baldwin and his lawyers. The tables are turned, and it’s the other way around.”
“Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense, and Baldwin’s on the offense,” Rahmani added.
Before Reeb announced she was stepping down, Baldwin’s attorneys successfully chipped away at other aspects of her case. Last week, Baldwin attorney Alex Spiro said in court that the gun at the center of this case had been “destroyed” by the state.
Prosecutors took issue with this description and insisted it had been “damaged” during FBI testing but could still be examined.
Regardless of how damaged or destroyed this firearm is, the fact remains that the literal smoking gun — a key piece of evidence for both teams — might not be usable. This could throw a major wrench into proceedings, considering that the gun used on set that day is pretty much the case. Baldwin has said he didn’t fire the gun, while the FBI has said he must have fired it.
“Everyone knows Alec Baldwin was holding the gun, there was no question,” said Rachel Fiset, defense attorney and co-founder of Los Angeles–based Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo, LLP, but “the fact that they don’t have the gun in pristine condition may make it even harder for the prosecution to prove whether he fired it or not.”
Before all of this drama went down, however, Baldwin secured his biggest legal win to date. After facing a gun-enhancement charge on one of the two involuntary-manslaughter counts Reeb charged him with, Baldwin’s lawyers successfully contended that he couldn’t be charged with the enhancement, arguing, “The prosecutors committed a basic legal error by charging Mr. Baldwin under a version of the firearm-enhancement statute that did not exist on the date of the accident.” Hutchins’s death was in October 2021, but the present version of this law did not go into effect until May of last year, ABC noted. If Baldwin were to be convicted on the gun-enhancement count, he would have faced a minimum five-year jail sentence.
The New Mexico prosecutors tossed the enhancement before a judge could decide the issue. The statement that accompanied the move was pointed. “In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust film set,” the prosecution said. “The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.” With the enhancement dropped, Baldwin faces a maximum of only 18 months in lockup if convicted.
Reeb’s replacement has not been revealed as of press time, and it’s not exactly a plum legal gig.
When Reeb’s replacement joins, they could reconsider some elements of the case. “If they’re getting somebody in to replace the DA that’s stepping down, that [new] DA might take a fresher look at the case and try to backpedal what’s been done,” Fiset explained. “Unfortunately for the prosecution, all of this legwork should have been done on the front end, but they were anxious to prosecute the case against Alec Baldin on fairly shaky grounds, so maybe they were ignoring the evidence they did and did not have.”
But the real question is this: “Who wants to jump on this sinking ship?” Rahmani asked. “They’ll always be known as the Marcia Clark or Christopher Darden, who lost a very high-profile case. It could be a career killer.”
@Helico-pterFunk
The Manslaughter Case Against Alec Baldwin Is Not Going Well at All
With the lead prosecutor out and the position being deemed a “career killer,” the Rust case has taken a turn.
The Manslaughter Case Against Alec Baldwin Is Not Going Well at All
By Victoria Bekiempis
On March 14, yet another twist unfolded in the New Mexico manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin over the Rust set shooting when special prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced she was stepping down from her role. “After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down as special prosecutor in the Rust case. My priority in this case — and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career — has been justice for the victim,” Reeb said in a statement. “However, it has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for basic safety protocols [that] led to the death of Halyna Hutchins.”
Reeb also said, “I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.”
Reeb’s departure in the middle of a high-profile proceeding comes amid other legal plot turns that seem in Baldwin’s favor, raising questions about whether New Mexico prosecutors have enough to pursue the manslaughter case.
The tables started turning against Reeb in earnest when Baldwin’s attorneys filed paperwork last month arguing that Reeb should be removed from the case because she works as a state lawmaker. (She represents New Mexico in the House of Representatives.) Baldwin’s lawyers contended that it was unconstitutional for her to serve in another branch of government, per Reuters. There was a hearing scheduled for later this month to hear arguments over whether Reeb could serve. By leaving before the hearing, a legal defeat wasn’t handed down to Reeb. Still, it’s a definite victory for Baldwin and his team, who now have more control over the course of this case.
“They’re in full retreat mode right now, which is not what you want,” said Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers and a former federal prosecutor, of the prosecution’s current state. “You want to be on the offense and putting pressure on Baldwin and his lawyers. The tables are turned, and it’s the other way around.”
“Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense, and Baldwin’s on the offense,” Rahmani added.
Before Reeb announced she was stepping down, Baldwin’s attorneys successfully chipped away at other aspects of her case. Last week, Baldwin attorney Alex Spiro said in court that the gun at the center of this case had been “destroyed” by the state.
Prosecutors took issue with this description and insisted it had been “damaged” during FBI testing but could still be examined.
Regardless of how damaged or destroyed this firearm is, the fact remains that the literal smoking gun — a key piece of evidence for both teams — might not be usable. This could throw a major wrench into proceedings, considering that the gun used on set that day is pretty much the case. Baldwin has said he didn’t fire the gun, while the FBI has said he must have fired it.
“Everyone knows Alec Baldwin was holding the gun, there was no question,” said Rachel Fiset, defense attorney and co-founder of Los Angeles–based Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo, LLP, but “the fact that they don’t have the gun in pristine condition may make it even harder for the prosecution to prove whether he fired it or not.”
Before all of this drama went down, however, Baldwin secured his biggest legal win to date. After facing a gun-enhancement charge on one of the two involuntary-manslaughter counts Reeb charged him with, Baldwin’s lawyers successfully contended that he couldn’t be charged with the enhancement, arguing, “The prosecutors committed a basic legal error by charging Mr. Baldwin under a version of the firearm-enhancement statute that did not exist on the date of the accident.” Hutchins’s death was in October 2021, but the present version of this law did not go into effect until May of last year, ABC noted. If Baldwin were to be convicted on the gun-enhancement count, he would have faced a minimum five-year jail sentence.
The New Mexico prosecutors tossed the enhancement before a judge could decide the issue. The statement that accompanied the move was pointed. “In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust film set,” the prosecution said. “The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.” With the enhancement dropped, Baldwin faces a maximum of only 18 months in lockup if convicted.
Reeb’s replacement has not been revealed as of press time, and it’s not exactly a plum legal gig.
When Reeb’s replacement joins, they could reconsider some elements of the case. “If they’re getting somebody in to replace the DA that’s stepping down, that [new] DA might take a fresher look at the case and try to backpedal what’s been done,” Fiset explained. “Unfortunately for the prosecution, all of this legwork should have been done on the front end, but they were anxious to prosecute the case against Alec Baldin on fairly shaky grounds, so maybe they were ignoring the evidence they did and did not have.”
But the real question is this: “Who wants to jump on this sinking ship?” Rahmani asked. “They’ll always be known as the Marcia Clark or Christopher Darden, who lost a very high-profile case. It could be a career killer.”
@ViCiouS
Yooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!?!??!?!
Bro?
That aint even FUNNY
that's FACT.
How the f*ck that ENTIRE STATE LEGISLATURE let this happen?
Or did they WANT this to happen?
And if they DID?
What is there endgame?
ambition + incompetence
A homicide has to have a perpetrator
@Helico-pterFunk
The Manslaughter Case Against Alec Baldwin Is Not Going Well at All
With the lead prosecutor out and the position being deemed a “career killer,” the Rust case has taken a turn.
The Manslaughter Case Against Alec Baldwin Is Not Going Well at All
By Victoria Bekiempis
On March 14, yet another twist unfolded in the New Mexico manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin over the Rust set shooting when special prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced she was stepping down from her role. “After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down as special prosecutor in the Rust case. My priority in this case — and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career — has been justice for the victim,” Reeb said in a statement. “However, it has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for basic safety protocols [that] led to the death of Halyna Hutchins.”
Reeb also said, “I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.”
Reeb’s departure in the middle of a high-profile proceeding comes amid other legal plot turns that seem in Baldwin’s favor, raising questions about whether New Mexico prosecutors have enough to pursue the manslaughter case.
The tables started turning against Reeb in earnest when Baldwin’s attorneys filed paperwork last month arguing that Reeb should be removed from the case because she works as a state lawmaker. (She represents New Mexico in the House of Representatives.) Baldwin’s lawyers contended that it was unconstitutional for her to serve in another branch of government, per Reuters. There was a hearing scheduled for later this month to hear arguments over whether Reeb could serve. By leaving before the hearing, a legal defeat wasn’t handed down to Reeb. Still, it’s a definite victory for Baldwin and his team, who now have more control over the course of this case.
“They’re in full retreat mode right now, which is not what you want,” said Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers and a former federal prosecutor, of the prosecution’s current state. “You want to be on the offense and putting pressure on Baldwin and his lawyers. The tables are turned, and it’s the other way around.”
“Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense, and Baldwin’s on the offense,” Rahmani added.
Before Reeb announced she was stepping down, Baldwin’s attorneys successfully chipped away at other aspects of her case. Last week, Baldwin attorney Alex Spiro said in court that the gun at the center of this case had been “destroyed” by the state.
Prosecutors took issue with this description and insisted it had been “damaged” during FBI testing but could still be examined.
Regardless of how damaged or destroyed this firearm is, the fact remains that the literal smoking gun — a key piece of evidence for both teams — might not be usable. This could throw a major wrench into proceedings, considering that the gun used on set that day is pretty much the case. Baldwin has said he didn’t fire the gun, while the FBI has said he must have fired it.
“Everyone knows Alec Baldwin was holding the gun, there was no question,” said Rachel Fiset, defense attorney and co-founder of Los Angeles–based Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo, LLP, but “the fact that they don’t have the gun in pristine condition may make it even harder for the prosecution to prove whether he fired it or not.”
Before all of this drama went down, however, Baldwin secured his biggest legal win to date. After facing a gun-enhancement charge on one of the two involuntary-manslaughter counts Reeb charged him with, Baldwin’s lawyers successfully contended that he couldn’t be charged with the enhancement, arguing, “The prosecutors committed a basic legal error by charging Mr. Baldwin under a version of the firearm-enhancement statute that did not exist on the date of the accident.” Hutchins’s death was in October 2021, but the present version of this law did not go into effect until May of last year, ABC noted. If Baldwin were to be convicted on the gun-enhancement count, he would have faced a minimum five-year jail sentence.
The New Mexico prosecutors tossed the enhancement before a judge could decide the issue. The statement that accompanied the move was pointed. “In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust film set,” the prosecution said. “The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.” With the enhancement dropped, Baldwin faces a maximum of only 18 months in lockup if convicted.
Reeb’s replacement has not been revealed as of press time, and it’s not exactly a plum legal gig.
When Reeb’s replacement joins, they could reconsider some elements of the case. “If they’re getting somebody in to replace the DA that’s stepping down, that [new] DA might take a fresher look at the case and try to backpedal what’s been done,” Fiset explained. “Unfortunately for the prosecution, all of this legwork should have been done on the front end, but they were anxious to prosecute the case against Alec Baldin on fairly shaky grounds, so maybe they were ignoring the evidence they did and did not have.”
But the real question is this: “Who wants to jump on this sinking ship?” Rahmani asked. “They’ll always be known as the Marcia Clark or Christopher Darden, who lost a very high-profile case. It could be a career killer.”
It's becoming the Neverending Story, Playa.
