Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty in Rust fatal shooting case

Rust film crew members have turned on Hollywood A-lister Alec Baldwin, taking legal action against him for the fatal shooting. See why.

Rust film crew members have just filed a lawsuit against actor Alec Baldwin over the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins.

Three members of the film crew, Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin and Reese Price, who claim they were on set as a dolly operator, set costumer and key grip, respectively, have launched legal action against the Hollywood A-lister.

They claim there were countless safety protocols overlooked throughout filming, which they say led to Hutchins’ death and caused them emotional damage, reports TMZ.

Alex Baldwin is facing legal action from Rust crew members following the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins. Picture: AFP

The trio claim shortcuts on safety were taken, such as not properly investigating previous accidental discharges prior to the fatal shooting, and the producers’ deciding to use “operable firearms” during 17 of 21 film days, despite using alternatives, such as replicas.

The crew members are suing for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress after they were forced to assist following the shooting of Hutchins and director, Joel Souza.

They say the events haunt them to this day and has left them traumatised. They’re asking for unspecified damages.

BALDWIN ENTERS NOT GUILTY PLEA

Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty in the case of the fatal shooting on the set of the movie Rust that killed the film’s cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded its director.

The actor entered his plea Thursday local time, a day before he was supposed to front court and will no longer need to appear at his hearing.

He was ordered not to be allowed to drink, possess a gun or talk to potential witnesses unless it’s regarding the continuation of filming Rust.

Earlier this week, prosecutors downgraded the involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin, significantly reducing the possible prison time for the actor and producer.

Baldwin’s lawyers argued that the Santa Fe County district attorney had incorrectly charged the actor under a version of a New Mexico firearm law that was passed months after the shooting occurred.

US actor Alec Baldwin will avoid a minimum five year sentence as prosecutors drop their new firearm law approach to the case. Picture: AFP

If convicted under that new firearm enhancement law, Baldwin would have received a minimum prison sentence of five years. Now, he faces a maximum of 18 months in prison.

Baldwin has denied responsibility for the shooting, saying he was handed a gun that he was told was “cold,” or did not contain live rounds.

Lighting technician Serge Svetnoy (L) taking a 'selfie' with cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Picture: AFP

According to a statement, the prosecution said it had dropped the firearm enhancement law to “avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys.”

“The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys,” Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for the district attorney, said on Monday, local time.

According to a report in the New York Times, those altered charges also apply to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armourer who was responsible for maintaining weapons and ammunition on the set of Rust.

Gutierrez-Reed loaded the gun on the day of the shooting with what were supposed to be blanks, not live rounds.

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin with their seven children. Picture: Instagram

But while Baldwin was drawing his revolver to prepare for his action in a scene, the gun discharged a live round, killing Hutchins, and injuring director Joel Souza who was beside her.

Lawyers for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed said that by charging their clients under the firearm enhancement law, they were being prosecuted under a law that had not passed until 2022. The distinction means that the active law when Hutchins was killed applied to weapons that were “brandished” in the context of a noncapital felony, whereas the newer law imposes a minimum five year sentence if a weapon is “discharged.”

It comes as Baldwin, a father of seven small children with wife Hilaria, is due to resume filming Rust in a matter of weeks.