Alec Baldwin Sues Prosecutors, Sheriff’s Office Officials Over ‘Rust’ Shooting Trial By Reuters
By Andrew Hay
(Reuters) – Alec Baldwin sued New Mexico prosecutors, sheriff’s office officials and others on Thursday, alleging malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the 2021 “Rust” shooting trial.
The lawsuit, filed in a Santa Fe court, follows the dramatic dismissal of Baldwin’s case during a July manslaughter trial in New Mexico’s capital.
A judge ruled that the prosecution and the sheriff’s office withheld evidence about the source of the live bullet that killed videographer Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin’s suit against prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Corporal Alexandria Hancock of the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and others is among at least a dozen civil lawsuits filed over Hutchins’ death, which has shocked Hollywood and prompted calls for a review of gun safety on movie sets.
Baldwin’s attorneys Luke Nikas and Heather LeBlanc demanded a jury trial to seek damages for malicious abuse of process, willful theft of evidence and defamation, among other complaints.
Morrissey and the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Ukrainian cameraman died when Baldwin pointed his gun at her, repeated it and possibly pulled the trigger while they were setting up a camera to film on a film set near Santa Fe, New Mexico, his lawyers say.
Real pistol, reproduction 1873. Single Action (WA:) A military revolver fired a live bullet that was inadvertently loaded by Hannah Gutierrez, the gun handler in the film. In March, Gutierrez was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
