Quentin Tarantino 'Partly Blames' Alec Baldwin For Rust Shooting Case: Actors Should...

Alec Baldwin faced charges of involuntary manslaughter for an incident that took place on the sets of Rust, three years ago. However, his case was dismissed by a judge based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of evidence from the defence, in July. Months later, Quentin Tarantino made a controversial comment saying Baldwin was partially at fault.

Quentin Tarantino's take on the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

The director appeared with Bill Maher for an episode of his Club Random podcast where Bill called out the prosecutors for charging Baldwin. However, Tarantino shared a different opinion saying the accident was 90 per cent Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer's fault and 10 per cent the actor and producer. He further stated that actors should have checked the weapon before using it in a scene and ensured there were no bullets.

For the unversed, the incident happened in 2021 during the shooting of Rust. Hutchins died after Baldwin accidentally fired a prop gun that was loaded with live ammunition. She was behind the camera supervising the take when the incident happened. Apart from her, director Joel Souza also sustained injury.

About Alec Baldwin’s trial

The ruling followed a day-long hearing filled with heated arguments regarding alleged mishandling of evidence by authorities. Judge Marlowe Sommer underscored the impact of procedural errors on the fairness of the trial, stating unequivocally, "The late discovery of this evidence has compromised the fundamental fairness of these proceedings. There is no remedy but to dismiss the charges." During the hearing, the judge personally inspected a bag of ammunition central to the case, which Baldwin's legal team asserted had been withheld from them until recently.

Alec Baldwin shares first photos after trial

Baldwin broke his silence following the dismissal of involuntary manslaughter charges against him by a New Mexico judge in connection with the tragic shooting incident on the set of the film Rust. In a statement obtained by Deadline, Baldwin expressed gratitude amidst a tumultuous legal battle. "I am grateful for the tremendous support I have received during this challenging time," he said.

He also shared a photo of him taken inside the courtroom on Instagram. Alongside the picture, he wrote, "There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now. To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family." The decision, announced on Friday by Judge Marlowe Sommer, not only dismissed the charges against Baldwin but also barred any possibility of retrial, effectively concluding the criminal proceedings against him, according to The Hollywood Reporter.