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Legal Analysis: Alec Baldwin Situation Beginning to Look a Lot Like Manslaughter

posted 3 years ago by Satan2016 (25525)
144 replies | jump to latest

Great site founded by a lawyer. Better than MSM news.

https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/10/legal-analysis-alec-baldwin-situation-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-manslaughter/

Since last Friday, however, it appears that certain facts have been established that have moved us hard towards the right side of that continuum and towards a conclusion that this tragic event looks increasingly like felony involuntary manslaughter.

The relevant facts we’re presuming to be established for purposes of this analysis include:

That it was Alec Baldwin who was manipulating the gun that fired the projectile that killed Ms. Hutchins.
That the gun discharged because the trigger was depressed by Baldwin (and not because of some defect in the weapon).
That the muzzle of the weapon was directed towards Ms. Hutchins by Baldwin when it was fired (e.g., she was not killed by an unpredictable ricochet).
That the gun contained a live round, the bullet of which struck and killed Ms. Hutchins.
That Baldwin had the opportunity to inspect the weapon for live ammo before he directed it at Ms. Hutchins and pressed the trigger, killing her.

Assuming, as we are, these facts to be established, it would certainly appear that they are more than sufficient to justify a criminal charge of involuntary manslaughter under New Mexico law and to support a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt on that charge.

[lots of legal discussion]

Attorney Andrew F. Branca

[–] JackNorth (244) 3 years ago

Also keep in mind; often a "name actor" is given a title of "producer" simply as another form of compensation to share in a project's profits, but in practice they have little-to-no actual responsibilities in its production. We don't know if that's the case here. I suppose it could be said that this is a risk that comes with such accepting the title.

[–] melissah1982 (883) 3 years ago

I agree with you. Some movies have multiple producers as well. That's why I feel you can't just blame one person and it will fall under the umbrella of the production company's liability. There is a whole chain of command. I don't think producers hand pick staff, unless there is legit someone they want on the project. They are the check signers. There's hiring managers for that and down the line.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 3 years ago

I commented on that site about this piece:

It seems like you aren’t giving due consideration to the environment in which the shooting occurred. It’s not just that “he’s an actor”, he’s an actor on the set of a film production that employed a dedicated armorer so that accidents like this one don’t happen. He was specifically told the gun was unloaded by one of the people responsible for confirming the gun was safe to handle. In that context, I already have a reasonable doubt that Baldwin had the necessary culpable mental state at the time of the shooting that would allow me to reach a guilty verdict.

[–] elcamino (15540) 3 years ago

He will say he was told it was empty. But it was his idea to have the stunt in the move that no one else has done in shooting a gun at the camera. He was more interested in the film making money than it being safe.

[–] sokar (2098) 3 years ago

that no one else has done in shooting a gun at the camera

You literally can't be serious.

It is called a point of view shot and has been done in thousands of movies.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Yes, he obviously killed her.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

The only sad part is involuntary manslaughter in New Mexico carries a maximum 18 months in prison. He deserves far more time to ponder his stupidity.

[–] melissah1982 (883) 3 years ago

Yes. The AD should. If he had only checked that gun properly per the protocols in place regarding guns in film making, maybe he wouldn't have given a loaded gun to an unknowing actor. Even though HE called 'cold gun' to the entire set letting everyone know it was safe for use.

[–] e3e34ifj (1912) 3 years ago

alec baldwin will walk away from this with little to no penalties. it will permanently affect his career and hopefully his psychology too.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

I say lock the motherfucker up.