“Rust” A.D. breaks down in trial testimony, recalls Halyna Hutchins telling him 'I can't feel my legs'

David Halls was previously charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon and served six months probation as part of a plea deal.

David Halls, the first assistant director of the Alec Baldwin western Rust, broke down during his testimony on Thursday recalling his last interaction with shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Halls was testifying in the involuntary manslaughter trial of armorer Hannah Gutierrez when he described the moments leading up to and after Hutchins was fatally shot with a gun being held by Baldwin.

Halls said he recalled being one of the first people to reach Hutchins, who was lying on the floor, and asked her if she was all right.

"She said, 'I can't feel my legs,'" Halls said, in tears. Baldwin had been told the gun did not contain live ammunition and has maintained that he did not pull the trigger. Director Joel Souza also sustained non-lethal wounds.

Halls testified that he did not properly check the gun that Baldwin had been using. Halls had conducted the safety check on the Colt .45 revolver and had given it to Baldwin. He and the actor were discussing with Hutchins where to point the gun when it went off.

Halls was charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon and sentenced to six months probation, as part of a plea deal, in March 2023. Halls admitted he accepted the plea because he "was negligent in checking the gun properly." When asked why he agreed to testify, he replied because it was important to him that "the truth be known."

"That Halyna's husband and son, her family, know the truth of what happened," Halls said. "It's important that the cast and the crew, producers of Rust know what happened. And it's important that the industry, the motion picture and television industry, knows what happened so that this never happens again."

Gutierrez pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges and evidence tampering. Though her fitness as an armorer was called into question by the prosecution, Halls testified that he did not have any concerns about her in the role and that the set of the movie was relatively safe.

Baldwin, the star and a producer of Rust, has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death and has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled to start in July.

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Related content:

• Alec Baldwin charged again with involuntary manslaughter in fatal Rust shooting

• Rust first-look photos show work of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

• Alec Baldwin may still face criminal charges in Rust shooting as prosecutors convene grand jury
  

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