LOS ANGELES: Holly­wood actor Alec Baldwin said on Friday he did not believe anyone would be criminally charged over the fatal shooting on the set of Western film Rust, telling CNN he had hired a private investigator to assess culpability for the tragedy.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died after being hit by a live round that came from a gun Baldwin was holding as he rehearsed on the New Mexico set of the low-budget movie last October.

A criminal investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, and prosecutors have not yet ruled out charges against those involved. “I sincerely believe... (investigators are) going to say that this was an accident. It’s tragic,” said Baldwin, in a rare interview about the episode.

Baldwin told CNN he had replayed the events leading up to the shooting over and over for the past 10 months, and had even hired a private investigator.

While insisting he does not want to “condemn” Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film set’s armourer and props assistant, Baldwin pointed the finger of blame at her and assistant director Dave Halls, who handed him the gun moments before the shooting.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2022