<div class="gjw_content"><div><div class="Article-paragraph"><p id="pdf-1705756651983"><span class="s1">SANTA FE, N.M. (NEWSnet/AP) — Alec Baldwin again faces a felony involuntary manslaughter charge after a grand jury indicted the actor in connection with the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer on a movie set in New Mexico. </span></p></div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"> </div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"><p class="p2"><span class="s2">Baldwin, lead actor and a co-producer of “Rust,&#34; pointed a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during rehearsal on a movie set outside Santa Fe when the gun fired, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.</span></p></div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"> </div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A new analysis of the gun opened the way for prosecutors to reboot the case, after dismissing an involuntary manslaughter charge in 2023. A new one-page indictment delivered by the grand jury Friday alleges Baldwin caused Hutchins&#39; death — either by negligence or “total disregard or indifference” for safety.</span></p></div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"> </div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"><p class="p4"><span class="s3">S</span><span class="s1">ome things to know about the case.</span></p></div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"> </div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"><p class="p4"><span class="s4"><strong>Next steps</strong>. </span><span class="s1">Baldwin can enter a formal plea with or without a court arraignment, setting in motion preparations for trial.</span> <span class="s1">The indictment provides prosecutors with two alternative standards for the felony involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin. One would be based on the negligent use of a firearm. A second alternative is to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Baldwin caused the death of Hutchins without due caution or &#34;circumspection,&#34; also defined as “an act committed with total disregard or indifference for the safety of others.”</span></p></div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"> </div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"><p class="p4"><span class="s4"><strong>Baldwin as co-producer</strong>. </span><span class="s1">Santa Fe-based defense attorney and former prosecutor John Day, who is not connected to the case, believes the indictment gives prosecutors an opportunity to address Baldwin&#39;s safety obligations as a co-producer.</span> <span class="s1">“We don’t know exactly what their theory is,” Day said. “It could be that they&#39;re including his role as basically CEO of the production ... not having a safe workplace and somebody dies and you&#39;re at the top of the pyramid.”</span></p></div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"> </div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"><p class="p3"><strong><span class="s4">Two related trials</span></strong><span class="s3">. </span><span class="s1">Separately, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis are preparing for a February trial against “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the case.</span> <span class="s1">That trial is likely to proceed independently, and could give Baldwin&#39;s attorneys insight into prosecution strategies and testimony from witnesses who are likely testify in proceedings against Baldwin.</span></p></div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"> </div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"><p class="p5"><span class="s2"><strong>Follow NEWSnet on </strong><span class="s5"><strong>Facebook</strong></span><strong> and </strong><span class="s5"><strong>X platform</strong></span><strong> to get our headlines in your social feeds</strong>.</span></p></div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"> </div></div> <div><div class="Article-paragraph"><p class="p6"><span class="s2"><em>Copyright 2024 NEWSnet and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.</em></span></p></div></div></div>
