Alec Baldwin says he should not be held financially responsible for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
According to The New York Times, Baldwin’s lawyers claimed in a new court filing the actor’s contract protected him from being held financially responsible for Halyna Hutchins’ death.
The Times reported the filing said Baldwin “was not responsible for her death, since he had been assured that the gun did not contain any live ammunition and because he was not responsible for checking the ammunition or for firearm safety on the set.”
The filing reportedly contains text messages that were exchanged between Baldwin and Matthew Hutchins, the husband of Halyna Hutchins.
“Which showed how their relationship had deteriorated over time — from mutual expressions of condolence and support in the immediate aftermath of the shooting to the pointed wrongful-death lawsuit Mr. Hutchins filed against Mr. Baldwin this year,” the Times explained.
The filing said Halyna Hutchins instructed Baldwin on how to hold the gun during a scene of the film.
“She directed Baldwin to hold the gun higher, to a point where it was directed toward her,” the filing said.
It continues, “She was looking carefully at the monitor and then at Baldwin, and then back again, as she gave these instructions. In giving and following these instructions, Hutchins and Baldwin shared a core, vital belief: that the gun was ‘cold’ and contained no live rounds.”
The filing claims Baldwin asked Halyna Hutchins if he should pull back the hammer and she said yes.
“Baldwin then pulled back the hammer, but not far enough to actually cock the gun,” it said. “When Baldwin let go of the hammer, the gun went off.”
Baldwin’s lawyer, Luke Nikas, argued someone “is culpable for chambering the live round that led to this horrific tragedy, and it is someone other than Baldwin.”
He added, “This is a rare instance when the system broke down, and someone should be held legally culpable for the tragic consequences. That person is not Alec Baldwin.”
Additionally, the filing described a meeting Baldwin had with Matthew Hutchins and his son following the shooting.
“Hutchins hugged Baldwin and told him, ‘I guess we’re going to go through this together,'” the filing states.
During an interview with NBC last month, Matthew Hutchins described the moment he became angry with Baldwin, as IJR reported.
“I was just so angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way and then to not accept any responsibility after having just described killing her,” Matthew Hutchins said.
He was referring to previous comments Baldwin made during an interview with ABC News.
