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Baldwin deal will have ‘no impact’ on fatal shooting investigation

John Dunne

THE settlement between Alec Baldwin, the Rust film production company and the family of Halyna Hutchins — who was fatally shot on the set of the movie — will have “no impact” on the criminal investigation, the Santa Fe District Attorney said today.

Cinematographer Ms Hutchins, 42, was killed on the set in October last year after a prop gun Baldwin was holding was discharged.

Her husband Matthew and their son Andros sued Hollywood star Baldwin, 64, and the film’s other producers for wrongful death but the civil lawsuit is set to end after an undisclosed settlement was agreed yesterday.

However, a spokesperson for the DA’s office said criminal charges would still be brought if they were warranted by the “facts and evidence” in the case.

Heather Brewer, spokesperson for the Office of the First Judicial District Attorney, said: “The proposed settlement will have no impact on District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies’s ongoing investigation or her ultimate decision whether to file criminal charges in the case.

“While civil suits are settled privately and often involve financial awards, criminal cases deal only in facts.

“If the facts and evidence warrant criminal charges under New Mexico law then charges will be brought.

“No one is above the law.”

Rust will resume filming in January 2023, with Matthew Hutchins serving as executive producer.

The developments come after a report into the incident found the film’s production company “knew that firearm safety procedures were not being followed on set” and “demonstrated plain indifference to employee safety”. Rust Movie Productions was fined $136,793 (£104,810), the maximum allowable by state law in New Mexico, following a six-month investigation by the state’s environment department.

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2022-10-06T07:00:00.0000000Z

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