Alec Baldwin claims cinematographer Halyna Hutchins gave him ‘instructions’ on how to hold the gun that shot and killed her on the set of Rust.
The actor has only been seen publicly a handful of times since he was accused of firing the gun in the fatal tragedy.
The shooting also led to an injury for director Joel Souza during a rehearsal for the film.
Baldwin’s lawyers have now filed an arbitration claim to shield Baldwin from any financial responsibility in connection with Hutchins’ death.
The lawyers also say that Baldwin’s legal fees must be covered by the production.
The documents filed go on to claim that Hutchins herself told the actor how to position the gun: ‘She directed Baldwin to hold the gun higher, to a point where it was directed toward her. She was looking carefully at the monitor and then at Baldwin, and then back again, as she gave these instructions.’
They added: ‘In giving and following these instructions, Hutchins and Baldwin shared a core, vital belief: that the gun was “cold” and contained no live rounds.’
Additionally, the attorneys say Baldwin asked Hutchins if she wanted him to pull back the hammer, adding that Hutchins responded in agreement.
Elsewhere in the docs, there’s reference to Baldwin’s interactions with Hutchins’ husband, Matthew, whom he met with shortly after the shooting.
The 63-year-old’s lawyers claim, when a bereaved Hutchins hugged Baldwin, he told the actor: ‘I guess we’re going to go through this together.’
Matthew and his son are now suing Baldwin, and others, for wrongful death, with Baldwin’s document insisting it is not the actor’s responsibility to check the gun for live ammunition.
Because of Baldwin’s executive producer title on the project, lawyers say his contract means he must offer compensation for the loss and harm caused.
However, Baldwin’s representatives say the Hollywood star was just a creative executive producer.
Following the tragic incident, Baldwin initially said that his ‘heart was broken’, although in an interview conducted with ABC News in December, he said that he felt he wasn’t responsible for what happened.
‘Someone is responsible for what happened, and I can’t say who that is, but it’s not me,’ he told news reporter George Stephanopoulos at the time.
‘There’s only one question that needs to be resolved, just one: “Where did the live round come from?”’
A source claimed back in November that the 30 Rock star had been struggling since the shooting happened.
They said he has had trouble sleeping and is ‘haunted’ by Hutchins’ death.
The insider also People that Baldwin ‘is struggling, because he clearly understands that things are even worse for Halyna’s family’.
The source continued: ‘He doesn’t want any sympathy. He doesn’t want this to be about him. He just wants to help Halyna’s husband and child as much as he can.’
No one has yet been charged in the incident.
Alec Baldwin’s reps have been contacted for comment.
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