Alec Baldwin was unable to control his emotions on the set of “The Last” and caused a “security breach” in the weeks before he shot and killed cinematographer Halina Hutchins in 2021, prosecutors said in court Monday. claimed in a filing.
The charges come in response to the actor’s bid to have his manslaughter charges vacated in New Mexico, and a trial is scheduled for July 10.
Prosecutor Kari Morrissey said Baldwin would scream and curse at staff and himself on the set of Western movies, sometimes for no apparent reason.
“Watching Mr. Baldwin’s behavior on the set of “The Last” was an eye-opener to a man who had no control over his emotions and had no regard for how his actions affected those around him. “That’s what we do,” Morrissey wrote. According to variety.
“Witnesses testified that this very act contributed to the safety of the filming location.”
According to the filing, Baldwin demanded that the crew and the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reid, “work faster.” CNN reported.
Gutierrez Reed, 26, who was in charge of gun safety at the shooting scene, was found guilty of manslaughter in a separate trial last month and sentenced to up to 18 months in prison.
Prosecutors said Baldwin “routinely violated safety” as a result of his “relentless” behavior and rushing staff to the filming location.
“Hannah Gutierrez’s negligence and inexperience combined with Alec Baldwin’s utter disregard for the safety of those around her would prove fatal to Halina Hutchins,” the filing states. ing.
Hutchins was killed while rehearsing with a recreated Colt .45 revolver Baldwin firing live ammunition. Manager Joel Souza was also hit and injured.
After the shooting, Baldwin created a false story about what happened, Morrissey wrote in his filing, including claiming he didn’t pull the trigger, which prosecutors described as “on the face of it. is irrational,” Variety reported.
She said he did not make the allegation when he met with police, but did so in a television interview a month later. Baldwin’s claim also contradicts the FBI’s ruling that the revolver could not fire without pulling the trigger.
“Each time Mr. Baldwin spoke, a different version of events came out of his mouth, and his subsequent statements contradicted his previous statements,” prosecutors said.
Morrissey accused the “Beetlejuice” star’s legal team of “countless lies and manipulation” and subjected her and co-counsel Jason Lewis to personal attacks.
Morrissey dropped the felony charges against Baldwin last April and instead offered him a misdemeanor plea deal in the fall, but ultimately rescinded that offer and charged him with felony manslaughter. In that case, Baldwin could be sentenced to 18 months in prison.
She wrote in Monday’s filing that she “frankly agreed” to meet with Baldwin’s attorney if she was appointed to the case.
During the meeting, defense attorney Lucas Nikas told prosecutors that the defense was prepared to call a number of famous actors, including Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, to testify against Baldwin. Lawyers also gave Morrissey a PowerPoint presentation explaining why the charges should be dropped, according to the filing.
Prosecutors agreed to drop the felony charges, but later determined that many of the defense’s statements were false or misleading. Baldwin’s team was successful in delaying the lawsuit, Morrissey wrote.
Prosecutors challenged charges of negligent handling of firearms last year after experts confirmed that the gun could not have fired without someone pulling the trigger, similar to director David Halls, who was not sentenced to prison. decided to offer him a misdemeanor deal.
Baldwin intended to accept the deal while launching a media blitz proclaiming his innocence.
Morrissey said she also learned that the actor was making a documentary about Hutchins and was “actively pressuring key witnesses in the case to give interviews.”
“At this point the plea agreement is rescinded,” she wrote.
