Alec Baldwin claims ‘Rust’ capturing probe ‘exonerates’ him

By IANS

LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Alec Baldwin believes he has been cleared following an investigation into the unintentional capturing on the set of ‘Rust’.

According to aceshowbiz.com, after New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau launched the findings of their six-month investigation, the actor responded by saying that the report “exonerates” him.

“We are grateful to the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau for investigating this matter,” a lawyer for Alec mentioned in a press release launched through the actor’s Instagram account.

“We appreciate that the report exonerates Mr. Baldwin by making clear that he believed the gun held only dummy rounds.”

“Additionally, the report recognizes that Mr. Baldwin’s authority on the production was limited to approving script changes and creative casting,” the lawyer confused.

“Mr. Baldwin had no authority over the matters that were the subject of the Bureau’s findings of violations, and we are pleased that the New Mexico officials have clarified these critical issues. We are confident that the individuals identified in the report will be held accountable for this tragedy.”

On Wednesday, OHSB launched a report on their investigation and located that the “Rust” producers “willfully violated” business security protocols. They fined the corporate $137,000, the utmost quantity attainable, for the security violations.

“The report concludes that Rust Movie Productions, LLC management knew that firearm safety procedures were not being followed on set and demonstrated plain indifference to employee safety by failing to review work practices and take corrective action,” based on the bureau’s assertion.

In specific, the report identified that armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was not given the possibility to carry out her job. Hannah was not within the church on the Old West set when the gun was handed to Baldwin after which went off.

“Rust did not provide staff responsible for ensuring firearms safety with sufficient time to inspect ammunition received to ensure that no live rounds were present,” the report mentioned.

Hannah’s lawyer mentioned the incident might have been prevented.

“Had anyone from production called Hannah in back into the church before the scene to consult with her, this tragedy would have been prevented,” her lawyer Jason Bowles advised USA Today in a press release.

Additionally, the probe discovered that ‘Rust’ administration ignored considerations raised by crew members about firearm and pyrotechnics misfires on set previous to the capturing incident.

Weapons specialists weren’t allowed to make choices about extra security coaching, OSHB identified.

Baldwin, seven producers and different ‘Rust’ crew members, together with Hannah, nonetheless face a wrongful demise lawsuit from Halyna Hutchins’ household, alleging that reckless behaviour and cost-cutting led to the cinematographer’s demise.