The family of Halyna Hutchins expressed deep disappointment last week after charges against Alec Baldwin related to her tragic death were dismissed. On December 24, Hutchins' family held a press conference to reflect on the Santa Fe District Attorney's announcement withdrawing criminal charges against Baldwin, who was initially charged with manslaughter following the accidental shooting on the set of the film Rust.
Halyna Hutchins, the late cinematographer, died after Baldwin discharged a gun he had been holding, resulting in live ammunition being fired. The Santa Fe District Attorney's Office special prosecutor, Kari Morrissey, cited the need for closure when she announced the withdrawal of the appeal against the charges, which had been dismissed by New Mexico District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer earlier this summer.
"This has always been about seeking justice for Halyna Hutchins. We regret...that Mr. Baldwin will not be held accountable for the role he played in her death," Morrissey stated during the press conference. Her comments highlighted the family's determined quest for justice, which they believe remains unachieved.
At the press conference, the family was represented by renowned attorney Gloria Allred, who voiced their frustration with the legal outcome. "There was no justice, because a jury couldn't hear the evidence," Allred stated. She asserted, "It's not over until it's over, and it's not over yet," indicating the family’s unwillingness to accept defeat.
Emotion filled the room as Allred challenged New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez's decision, claiming he was the "Grinch who stole Christmas" from the Hutchins family. "We will work to...ensure future holidays will be without this Grinch," she declared, characterizing the attorney's actions as detrimental to their cause.
Adding to the family's voice, Olga Solovey, Hutchins' mother, publicly mourned her daughter by protesting the premiere of Rust at the EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival held recently. "It was always my hope to meet my daughter in Poland to watch her work come alive on screen," she shared. The devastation of losing her daughter at such a key moment weighed heavily on her, as she lamented, "Unfortunately, it was ripped away from me when Alec Baldwin discharged his gun and killed my daughter."
Solovey did not hold back her feelings of anguish, stating, "Alec Baldwin continues to increase my pain with his refusal to apologize to me and his refusal to take responsibility for her death." Her comments underscored the family's belief of Baldwin's lack of accountability. She also expressed her concern about Baldwin profiting from his role, remarking, "Instead, he seeks to unjustly profit from his killing of my daughter. That is the reason why I refuse to attend the festival for the promotion of Rust, especially now when there is still no justice for my daughter."
Meanwhile, Baldwin took to the airwaves to express his own view of the events leading up to Hutchins' death. Appearing on the Fail Better podcast, he asserted, "The more to come is now my effort, and it's going to be undeniably a successful effort, to expose what really happened." His statements point to Baldwin's frustration with how the incident was portrayed and his dissatisfaction with the narratives being built around it.
While Baldwin seeks to clear his name by proclaiming the truth behind the film set tragedy, the Hutchins family remains dedicated to pursuing justice through outstanding lawsuits against him. For them, the emotional and legal battle continues, with the family's commitment to Halyna's legacy driving their efforts.
The dissonance between the perspectives of Baldwin and the Hutchins family has painted a complex picture of grief, accountability, and the pursuit of justice—one where unresolved emotions continue to linger, overshadowing the film industry with poignant reminders of its tragic past.
