Prosecutors have reclassified charges against Alec Baldwin in the 2011 Rust western murder case, according to a report Monday by The New York
Times
.
The actor charged with manslaughter with aggravating circumstances faced a minimum sentence of five years in prison, under a New Mexico law passed after the tragedy.
The actor's lawyers defended that their client could not incur such a sentence because of the anteriority of the facts, which the prosecutor has since recognized.
Therefore, if Alex Baldwin were to be found guilty, the sentence could not exceed 18 months in prison.
The measure also concerns the gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, also prosecuted in this case.
In October 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was shot and wounded after Alec Baldwin handled a gun, allegedly loaded blank, in front of them.
Alec Baldwin is also the subject of a civil complaint from the Ukrainian parents and the victim's sister, the family's lawyer announced on Thursday.
Alec Baldwin, 64, known in particular for his role in the series
30 Rock,
has always claimed his innocence.
According to him, he was assured that his weapon was harmless, and he denies having pulled the trigger.
An assertion questioned by many experts.