By Andrew Hay
(Reuters) -Alec Baldwin on Thursday sued New Mexico prosecutors, sheriff’s office officials and others, alleging malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the 2021 “Rust” shooting trial.
The lawsuit filed in a Santa Fe court follows the dramatic dismissal of Baldwin’s case during his July manslaughter trial in the New Mexico capital.
A judge ruled the prosecutor and sheriff’s office withheld evidence on the source of a live round that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin’s action against prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Alexandria Hancock and others is among at least a dozen civil lawsuits filed over Hutchins’ death which shocked Hollywood and sparked calls for an overhaul of firearms safety on movie sets.
Baldwin’s lawyers Luke Nikas and Heather LeBlanc demanded a jury trial to seek damages for malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence and defamation, among other complaints.
Morrissey and the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Ukrainian cinematographer died when Baldwin pointed his pistol at her, cocked it and possibly pulled the trigger as they set up a camera shot on a movie set near Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to his lawyers.
The real gun, a reproduction 1873 Single Action (WA:) Army revolver, fired a live round inadvertently loaded by Hannah Gutierrez, the movie’s weapons handler. Gutierrez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
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