Legal

Marion McKeone: Dropping of charges against Alec Baldwin no surprise to entertainment-law insiders

The criminal investigation against the actor, charged with involuntary manslaughter after a prop gun in his hands went off, has been plagued by missteps from the outset

Alec Baldwin: the Hollywood veteran maintained that he never pulled the trigger in the shooting of Halyna Hutchins, despite an FBI investigation that contradicted his claim. Picture: AFP

The decision by the newly appointed Santa Fe special prosecutors to drop felony involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin has come as little surprise to criminal and entertainment lawyers, who believe the case was mishandled from the outset.

The accidental shooting death of Ukrainian-born cinematographer Halnya Hutchins on the set of the low-budget Western Rust in October 2021 has spawned multiple legal actions, including civil lawsuits, an investigation into on-set safety procedures and a ...