Alec Baldwin is still being hounded.
The family and husband of “Lust” cinematographer Halina Hutchins say they plan to “fight to the end” to hold the actor accountable for her on-set death nearly three years ago, after a New Mexico judge dismissed a manslaughter charge against him.
“The dismissal of the criminal case against Alec Baldwin in no way proves his innocence,” Gloria Allred, a power lawyer representing Hutchins’ parents and sister, said Saturday outside the Santa Fe courthouse.
“The fact remains that Alec Baldwin murdered Halina Hutchins on the set of Lust. The fact remains that he pointed a loaded gun at a human being,” she continued.
Baldwin, 66, was holding a prop gun on the set of the ill-fated Western on Oct. 21, 2021, when the gun accidentally discharged, hitting Hutchins with a live bullet and injuring director Joel Souza.
After several days of deliberations, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled Friday that the charges against Baldwin should be dropped because there were indications that prosecutors had concealed key ammunition evidence from the defense.
Baldwin broke his silence on the court’s decision in an emotional Instagram post on Saturday afternoon.
“There are so many people who have supported me and I can’t express my gratitude enough right now,” the former 30 Rock star wrote alongside a photo of himself in a Santa Fe courtroom.
“You guys will never know how much I appreciate your kindness towards my family,” the father of eight added.
Allred said representatives for the family were “disappointed that the judge did not exercise any other options to move forward with criminal prosecution.”
“The judge’s dismissal decision will be a devastating blow to Halina’s family in Ukraine, who mourn her loss every day, but we will continue to defend the truth that Alec Baldwin is responsible for Halina’s death,” she said.
Halina Hutchins film set update
“We remain committed to holding Alec Baldwin and the entire production of Lust accountable in our civil lawsuit, regardless of the judge’s decision in this criminal case,” the lawyers continued.
“Actors don’t have a special right to ignore gun safety guidelines. We all have a responsibility to make sure our workplaces are safe.”
Mr Allred’s scathing criticism came after Mr Hutchins’ widow, Matthew Hutchins, also vowed to hold Mr Baldwin accountable for the tragedy.
“We respect the court’s decision,” attorney Brian J. Panish, representing the grieving husband, told The Washington Post on Saturday.
“We look forward to presenting all of the evidence to the jury and holding Mr. Baldwin accountable for his actions in the senseless death of Halina Hutchins,” Panish said in a statement released to Deadline for the first time Friday night shortly after the stunning verdict overturning.
Allred filed a lawsuit against Baldwin and others in Los Angeles last year on behalf of Hutchins’ family. His law firm withdrew the lawsuit in June and refiled it in Santa Fe.
Variety reports that the lawsuit is still in its early stages.
Baldwin broke down in tears when Judge Sommer announced midway through the trial that the charges were being dropped.
Special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson stepped away from the case just before the shocking development, telling NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo that she had no knowledge of the unreleased evidence.
But Johnson added that based on his experience working on the case, he believes Baldwin was “messing around” with a prop gun, which he called “reckless.”
“It could be a reckless act because it’s not a target, a human being, of another person,” she explained.
The weapons officer at the scene, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was convicted of manslaughter in connection with Hutchins’ death in March. During the sentencing, Allred read victim impact statements from her grieving family.
“[Halyna’s father] “I want everyone who may be responsible for Halina’s death to face the consequences,” Allred told KOAT7 earlier this week as the case against Baldwin began.
Gutierrez-Reed was ultimately sentenced to 18 months in prison, the maximum time Baldwin could face if convicted of manslaughter.
Matthew Hutchins previously settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Baldwin for an undisclosed amount.
As part of the agreement, the widow will be credited as an executive producer on “Lust,” which ultimately wraps filming in May 2023.
Baldwin, who is currently filming a TLC reality show with his wife Hilaria and their seven young children, was all smiles as he grabbed dinner at a Santa Fe restaurant on Friday evening.
The star in question was dressed casually in a black T-shirt and blue blazer as he arrived at the Casa Chimayo restaurant with an entourage that included his brother and fellow actor Stephen Baldwin (58).
Despite Friday’s suspended sentence, Baldwin’s legal troubles have already cast a shadow over his glamorous lifestyle.
The three-time Emmy Award winner, whose net worth is reportedly around $70 million, according to CelebrityNetWorth.com, made headlines after he personally pleaded with potential buyers for his East Hampton home.
Baldwin put the house on the market in September 2022, nearly a year after the “Rust” incident.
The property languished in limbo for more than a year before being taken down and then relisted for about $19 million, $10 million below the original asking price.
He also owns a $10.3 million estate in New York’s Greenwich Village and a $1.6 million farmhouse in Arlington, Vermont.
