Prosecutors in New Mexico have denied allegations made by Alec Baldwin’s lawyers that state authorities destroyed the film that killed photographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie “Rusty.” firearms.
Alex Spiro, a lawyer for the 64-year-old actor, said: “I don’t think the court knew that, but I think I should tell the court that the firearm in this case … was a state.
“That’s obviously a problem and we need to see that gun, or what’s left of it.”
Prosecutors did not respond at Thursday’s hearing, but Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, said in a statement to Sky News that Mr Spiro’s claims were false of.
She said: “The gun that Alec Baldwin used in the shooting that killed Halina Hutchins was not destroyed by the state. The gun is in evidence and available for review by the defense.
“The defense’s surprise statement today at the status hearing that the firearm was destroyed by the state may refer to a statement in the FBI’s July 2022 firearm testing report that said damage to the firearm’s internal components occurred during the FBI’s functional testing. got damaged.
“However, the gun is still there and can be used as evidence.”
Baldwin, the film’s star and producer, was holding a gun when Hutchins was killed, though he denied pulling the trigger.
Photo by Halyna Hutchins in 2017. Image credit: Rex
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Photos by Alec Baldwin in New York in January
Following the fatal shooting in October 2021, he and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the movie’s original Armourer, were charged with two types of manslaughter, charges they have both denied.
Preliminary hearings to decide whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial could take months.
Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Baldwin and others in connection with Hutchins’ death, including her husband Matthew, her parents and sister. A reached a settlement end of January.
three crew members are also among those who have begun legal actionsaying they have been experiencing symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder since the shooting.