Alec Baldwin, 64, has been charged with manslaughter after being shot dead on the Rust set. District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies sees 'enough evidence' to bring the actor to justice. Legal scholar Samuel Hahn tells us what Baldwin could face if convicted.
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In New Mexico, involuntary manslaughter is generally punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. However, if the killing - as in the present case - was committed with a firearm, there is a minimum sentence of five years in prison,' said legal scholar Samuel Hahn when asked by RTL.
That means the actor could actually face a lengthy prison sentence. According to the attorney, what matters is whether the court believes it was Baldwin's duty to check the gun for safety before pointing it at anyone else.
During a rehearsal on the 'Rust' set, Alec Baldwin aimed at Halyna Hutchins. Because there was live ammunition in the props revolver for reasons that have not yet been clarified, the camerawoman died from Baldwin's shot.
For the legal scholar, it is precisely in this unexplained scenario that Alec Baldwin has a chance to avoid conviction. “He has to claim that he acted with care. If necessary, he will shift the blame for this to other members of production and state, for example, that it was the task of the armorer, who was also accused, to ensure that the weapon was harmless,' explains Samuel Hahn.
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However, the lawyer believes that the relevant prosecutor's office believes that it is standard practice on film sets for actors to inspect their guns themselves before using them. 'Then things would look bad for Mr. Baldwin,' says Samuel Hahn.