Over 15 months since Ukrainian cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of Rust, three cast and crew members are set to be charged over her death – including actor Alec Baldwin.
Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter, as will the film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed. Meanwhile, the film’s 1st AD, David Halls, has signed a plea agreement for negligent use of a deadly weapon.
The charges were announced by Santa Fe’s District Attorney on Thursday 19 January 2023, who said they would be filed by the end of the month.
42-year-old Hutchins was filming Rust, a Western, in New Mexico when a prop gun misfired, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza. No charges have been filed in relation to Souza’s injuries, prosecutors have said.
In October 2022, it was suggested that Rust would restart in January 2023 following the resolution of a lawsuit filed by Matthew Hutchins, Halyna’s widower, and their 9-year-old child Andros. Matthew Hutchins would be an executive producer on the resumed production.
Hutchins’ tragic death prompted necessary discourse over health and safety standards in the industry. British Cinematographer will be carrying on the conversation in our January 2023 issue.
