Is it right to call it a "win", though? They haven't dropped any charges. It's just that he's subject to a lower, or no, mandatory period of imprisonment. It's a technicality, really.
www.independent.co.uk
www.hollywoodreporter.com
The rationale has been given (by Hutchins) that the family wishes to see Halyna's talent memorialized by the completion of her final movie. And I get that.
Alec Baldwin and Rust producers reach settlement with Halyna Hutchins estate
Her widow, Matthew Hutchins, will serve as executive producer when filming resumes in January 2023.
Hutchins seems to imply that this is part of moving on, but there are financial reasons as welL
Inside the Secret ‘Rust’ Settlement: Why Did Halyna Hutchins’ Widower Drop His Suit to Become an Executive Producer?
Legal experts detail what the estate and the producers stand to gain by calling a truce and teaming up to complete the movie on which star Alec Baldwin fatally shot the DP in October 2021.
IMO.
As discussed in this ^ post, the DA clearly made a mistake, because the actual text of the law in effect at the time of the shooting (passed in 2020, effective 2021) specified "brandished" a firearm -- AND it had replaced prior law that said "used." While that may not have been the intent of the change passed in 2020, it was the law on the books in 2021, until they went back with new wording (that went into effect in 2022) saying both "brandished" and "used." I think the lawmakers made a mistake, and the DA followed what was the intent of the law (but not it's actual wording).
In the Feb 10 motion, the defense said (accurately): "The prosecutors committed a basic legal error by charging Mr. Baldwin under a version of the firearm-enhancement statute that did not exist on the date of the accident."
The defense caught the mistake, and now the DA has backed down, as they must.
However, it's interesting how the DA has tried to spin this development. Rather saying saying, "Oops, we made a mistake in which statute we have used, so we are taking the 5 year enhancement off the table and our apologies," they have tried to spin this a different way in which they cast aspersions at the defense for making the DA stick to the law (which to me, is classless). Their statement:
"In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the 'Rust' film set. The prosecution's priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys."
Litigious distractions? That's BS - the DA had illegally charged AB for a crime that did not exist, and defense forced them to stop. Hardly a distraction, if you are the one who the govt is trying to imprison illegally.
The DA continued taking pot-shots, even though this was their own doing. Further BS, trying to label this an "attempt to distract" rather than the defense cleaning up the DA's blunder, followed by ad hominem attacks and self-serving pomposity.
""Another day, another motion from Alec Baldwin and his attorneys in an attempt to distract from the gross negligence and complete disregard for safety on the 'Rust' film set that led to Halyna Hutchins' death. In accordance with good legal practice, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor will review all motions -- even those given to the media before being served to the DA. However, the DA's and the special prosecutor's focus will always remain on ensuring that justice is served and that everyone -- even celebrities with fancy attorneys -- is held accountable under the law."
Very disappointing behavior by the DA imo.
DA drops gun enhancement charge against Alec Baldwin in 'Rust' shooting
The Santa Fe District Attorney's Office announced it is dropping the gun enhancement charge against Alec Baldwin in the "Rust" shooting.abcnews.go.com
Unreal. Well, it just makes the DA look even worse, .. for not only charging him under a law that came into effect after the fact, and for not only charging him under a law that at the time, did state 'brandishing', which made the law inapplicable in this case, according to their own descriptions of what took place.. but now for also being a sore loser for having to remove the 'enhanced' charge and 'blaming' it on antics and further irresponsibility. She is a piece of work and this all looks good on her. She is making herself look even more incompetent now. imo.As discussed in this ^ post, the DA clearly made a mistake, because the actual text of the law in effect at the time of the shooting (passed in 2020, effective 2021) specified "brandished" a firearm -- AND it had replaced prior law that said "used." While that may not have been the intent of the change passed in 2020, it was the law on the books in 2021, until they went back with new wording (that went into effect in 2022) saying both "brandished" and "used." I think the lawmakers made a mistake, and the DA followed what was the intent of the law (but not it's actual wording).
In the Feb 10 motion, the defense said (accurately): "The prosecutors committed a basic legal error by charging Mr. Baldwin under a version of the firearm-enhancement statute that did not exist on the date of the accident."
The defense caught the mistake, and now the DA has backed down, as they must.
However, it's interesting how the DA has tried to spin this development. Rather saying saying, "Oops, we made a mistake in which statute we have used, so we are taking the 5 year enhancement off the table and our apologies," they have tried to spin this a different way in which they cast aspersions at the defense for making the DA stick to the law (which to me, is classless). Their statement:
"In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the 'Rust' film set. The prosecution's priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys."
Litigious distractions? That's BS - the DA had illegally charged AB for a crime that did not exist, and defense forced them to stop. Hardly a distraction, if you are the one who the govt is trying to imprison illegally.
The DA continued taking pot-shots, even though this was their own doing. Further BS, trying to label this an "attempt to distract" rather than the defense cleaning up the DA's blunder, followed by ad hominem attacks and self-serving pomposity.
""Another day, another motion from Alec Baldwin and his attorneys in an attempt to distract from the gross negligence and complete disregard for safety on the 'Rust' film set that led to Halyna Hutchins' death. In accordance with good legal practice, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor will review all motions -- even those given to the media before being served to the DA. However, the DA's and the special prosecutor's focus will always remain on ensuring that justice is served and that everyone -- even celebrities with fancy attorneys -- is held accountable under the law."
Very disappointing behavior by the DA imo.
DA drops gun enhancement charge against Alec Baldwin in 'Rust' shooting
The Santa Fe District Attorney's Office announced it is dropping the gun enhancement charge against Alec Baldwin in the "Rust" shooting.
Seems to take a fancy lawyer to understand the English in their own laws over there, to establish what was rightful in the first place. Imagine if it was just a regular joe-blow who didn't have funds sitting around to hire "fancy" lawyers to figure it out for them? I hope they are somehow awarded costs for at least that portion of this lawsuit? I don't see it as a huge win, as it had no choice BUT to be removed. imo.
Is it not required of her to review all motions? But hey, how very charitable of her.
Maybe, or maybe at same time, kind of like how the DA was all over media for months threatening of impending lawsuits, and then announcing before they were issued? Which is why, perhaps, AB's legals chose (if they even did) to give the info to the media as well? imo.
And not to keep going on about this, but... thank god for 'fancy attorneys' who hold the powers-that-be accountable for administering their own laws fairly with equitable treatment of ALL in ensuring justice is served, EVEN including celebrities. imo.
I am really perplexed by that comment. And I am pretty disappointed from a professionalism point on the prosecutor's comments. She looks like a clown right now and is trying to blame it on AB's attorneys. She needs to just be quiet and build her case.
When it was first announced the film would continue and he would be a producer, I was a bit surprised. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me. Halyna loved her job and this was her last project. I don't think it is too crazy to think the family wants to see it as a memorial to her life. And I am sure there are real financial reasons for doing it as well. I don't think its wrong for everyone to take that into account.The rationale has been given (by Hutchins) that the family wishes to see Halyna's talent memorialized by the completion of her final movie. And I get that.
Alec Baldwin and Rust producers reach settlement with Halyna Hutchins estate
Her widow, Matthew Hutchins, will serve as executive producer when filming resumes in January 2023.
Hutchins seems to imply that this is part of moving on, but there are financial reasons as welL
Inside the Secret ‘Rust’ Settlement: Why Did Halyna Hutchins’ Widower Drop His Suit to Become an Executive Producer?
Legal experts detail what the estate and the producers stand to gain by calling a truce and teaming up to complete the movie on which star Alec Baldwin fatally shot the DP in October 2021.
IMO.
