SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) 鈥� The conclusion of a criminal case against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer clears the way for a related civil lawsuit by relatives of the deceased woman and efforts to depose the actor under oath, attorneys for plaintiffs in the civil suit said Tuesday.
At a news conference in Los Angeles, victims鈥� rights attorney Gloria Allred said that the parents and younger sister of deceased cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were disappointed that prosecutors against Baldwin. The criminal charge against Baldwin was on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.
Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during a rehearsal in the movie 鈥淩ust鈥� in October 2021 at a film-set ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Baldwin, the lead actor and coproducer, was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when it discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer 鈥� but not the trigger 鈥� and the revolver fired.
Allred said Hutchins' relatives are determined to pursue damages and compensation from Baldwin and 鈥淩ust鈥� producers in New Mexico civil court, and want Baldwin to answer questions under oath in the proceedings. Hutchins' widower and son previously reached a separate legal settlement.
鈥淲ith the withdrawal that was made public yesterday, we are now able to proceed with our civil case,鈥� Allred said. 鈥淐learly, the rights of Alec Baldwin were protected, but the due process rights of the victims 鈥� Halyna Hutchins and her parents and her sister 鈥� were violated.鈥�
Allred said she's ready to prove that Hutchins had a close relationship with her parents and sister 鈥� a prerequisite for seeking civil damages.
In November court filings in the civil lawsuit, Baldwin denied allegations that he was negligent or at fault in the shooting of Hutchins and sought to suspend the case. Attorneys for Baldwin could not immediately be reached Tuesday.
Allred read a statement from Hutchins' sister, Svetlana Zemko, that said, 鈥淢r. Baldwin must be held accountable.鈥�
In April, a judge sentenced movie weapons supervisor to the maximum of 1 1/2 years at a state penitentiary on an involuntary manslaughter conviction in Hutchins鈥� death.
Allred condemned New Mexico Attorney General Ra煤l Torrez for declining to appeal the dismissal of the criminal charge against Baldwin, calling him 鈥渢he Grinch who stole Christmas" at the Christmas Eve news conference.
Torrez spokesperson Lauren Rodriguez defended the decision in an email, citing 鈥渟ignificant procedural irregularities鈥� identified by the judge in the criminal case.
"Attorney General Torrez will not prolong the grief and anguish of Ms. Hutchins' family in the vain attempt to salvage the compromised criminal case against Mr. Baldwin,鈥� Rodriguez said. 鈥淭here are other victims鈥� families in Santa Fe County and across New Mexico who are awaiting justice, and our energy needs to be devoted to supporting those cases on appeal.鈥�
Morgan Lee, The Associated Press
