As most folks who read this hound know, back in October 21st of 2021, actor Alec Baldwin was plying his trade on the set of a western film, Rust. The scene was shot, literally, when the six gun in Deadeye's chow hook went off and cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dropped dead from a forty-four (no Hutchins, no more). Director Joel Souza sprung a leak.
Story and commentary to follow. Trigger warning: Never mind. Just keep plowing on through.
Alec Baldwin Indicted on Involuntary Manslaughter Charge in ‘Rust’ Shooting
From the article:
A New Mexico grand jury indicted actor Alec Baldwin on Friday after hearing evidence in a closed hearing over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died in 2021 on the Rust film set after Baldwin’s prop gun fired a live bullet.
Evidently there is some difference between the pistol you buy from your local gun shop, and the prop gun used on a film set. I'm guessing that the prop gun won't take live ammunition, but this one did.
NBC News reported that Baldwin attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro responded to the indictment by saying, “We look forward to our day In court.”
If Nikas and Spiro are actually looking forward to a trial, it's because the client can afford to pay them, and they think they'll win. Money aside, these are criminal defense attorneys, and should you ever need one such you'll want one with a string of trial victories. This will be a high profile case - I hope.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed on the set of “Rust” on October 21, 2021. Director Joel Souza was wounded in the incident as well.
What I wonder is if Baldwin was actually trying for Souza and clipped Hutchins by mistake. Many actors are absolute assholes, but directors can be far worse. At best, the director's temper snaps after having to deal with temperamental, hedonistic and grossly overpaid peacocks all day long, and he/she/it lets fly with a line of invective that would make any longshoreman take a step back.
The on-set armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, released a statement after the incident and claimed Baldwin “[pointed] the gun at Halyna [Hutchins] before the fatal incident against all rules and common sense.”
While Baldwin was immediately charged with a crime, the charges were dropped when the persecutor claimed new evidence had surfaced. The armorer, Hannah Reed, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.
The important part here is that the authorities asked Hannah Reed where the live ammo came from, and Reed responded that she had no idea. The prosecutor doesn't believe her, and neither do I (for whatever that's worth).
What I believe is that the Armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, knew that the murder weapon was loaded with live rounds before the murder took place. She also knows who smuggled the ammo onto the set and who it was that wanted the victim on the shady side of the lawn. The question is, who is Reed protecting, and why?
As for Baldwin, he's guilty as hell and he'll never do any real time for it. At best, it's involuntary manslaughter. At worst, it's murder one. I believe the latter.
Thanks for reading.
4 comments:
My only opinion: I had a friend years back who always said, "Baldwins have no penises." Needless to say, we spent a lot of time calling people Baldwins.
Never been much of a fan of the Baldwins liked some of their movies but the men not so much if at all, I couldn't see how he could have accidently shot and killed someone just didn't sound right to me but what do I know
Baldwin is going to get something. Apparently he refused the mandatory gun safety course for the thespians, and when forced to comply he was inattentive and snippy with the instructors. Reckless use of firearms is well established law with ample precedent so if they go soft on Baldwin all that would go out the window. Anyone that handles a gun is responsible for it.
The armorers will get the book thrown at them.
CW: Well, there you go.
Jo-Anne: It doesn't sound right to me either.
Glen: He's an actor. They make weird noises and are full of hubris - unless they're very successful, in which case their desires and ego are satisfied and they become human. The instructor of the firearms class should have failed him, and didn't. My thought is that it's murder one, but that's just me.
The armorer should get twenty-five to life.
Post a Comment