Prosecutors Investigating Say "Civil Settlement Unrelated to Criminal Charges... Investigation Continues"
Bereaved Matthew Hutchins Participates as Executive Producer Overseeing Film Safety Issues
Alec Baldwin and Matthew Hutchins, the husband of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who passed away, have announced that they have reached a settlement. The photo shows actor and film director Alec Baldwin. Photo by AP Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Actor and film director Alec Baldwin (64) has reached a settlement with the family of the staff member who died due to a gunshot incident on a movie set, for which he had filed a civil lawsuit.
On the 5th (local time), according to US media outlets including NPR, Baldwin and Matthew Hutchins, husband of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, announced that they had reached an agreement. The details of the settlement or any compensation to the family were not disclosed.
In a statement released that day, the family said, "We believe Halyna's death was a tragic accident," and "The wrongful death lawsuit filed against Baldwin and the film producers has been settled."
Baldwin posted on his Instagram, bowing his head and saying, "I thank everyone who contributed to resolving this tragic and painful situation."
However, separate from this settlement, the investigation into the incident is still ongoing. The New Mexico state prosecutor's office, which is handling the investigation, stated that the civil lawsuit settlement is unrelated to whether criminal charges will be filed.
The prosecutor said, "If the facts and evidence are valid under state law, charges will be filed," and added, "No one is above the law."
On October 21 last year, Baldwin was rehearsing a scene involving firing a prop gun on the set of the Western film Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A live round, not a blank, was fired from the gun, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins who was opposite him, and seriously injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin claims that he was told the gun was a "cold gun" with no live rounds loaded, received the prop gun from the crew, and that the gun fired due to a malfunction even though he did not pull the trigger himself.
On the other hand, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently concluded through forensic analysis that "a gun cannot fire unless someone pulls the trigger."
Meanwhile, according to the agreement between both parties, production of the film Rust, which had been halted after the accident, will resume in January next year. Matthew Hutchins, the family member, will participate as the executive producer overseeing safety issues for the film.
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