Alec Baldwin film tragedy: Crew member sues for negligence

3 years ago 66
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Serge Svetnoy says the bullet narrowly missed him

The head electrician on the film set where Alec Baldwin accidentally shot dead cinematographer Halyna Hutchins last month is suing the actor and other crew members over the incident.

Serge Svetnoy, a friend of Hutchins, is alleging negligence that resulted in "severe emotional distress". He says the bullet narrowly missed him.

The authorities are still investigating the 21 October incident in New Mexico.

No criminal charges have been brought against anyone.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Halyna Hutchins, 42, has been described as a "rockstar cinematographer"

Assistant director Dave Halls has told investigators he failed to check all the rounds in the gun before handing it over to Mr Baldwin, according to a court document.

Mr Halls reportedly called out "cold gun" as he gave it to the actor, meaning he believed it to be safe.

A film director was also injured in the shooting on the set of the Western film Rust.

Mr Svetnoy's civil lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles. It names nearly two dozen defendants.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Mr Svetnoy, 63, said he had seen guns sitting unattended in the dirt a few days before the fatal shooting, adding that he had warned the people responsible for them.

His lawsuit alleges that on the day of the shooting he "felt a strange and terrifying whoosh of what felt like pressurised air", when the gun went off. He was struck by "discharge materials from the blast".

At the news conference, Mr Svetnoy said he had kneeled down to try to help Ms Hutchins.

Neither Mr Baldwin, 63, nor other defendants named in the lawsuit have so far publicly commented on the latest developments.

Media caption,

First responders and others react to Rust set death

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