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The comments came a month after prosecutors dropped a criminal
charge against Baldwin over Hutchins' death in 2021, citing new
evidence. A source close to the case at the time said the
evidence concerned modifications to the reproduction long Colt
.45 revolver Baldwin was using.
"The modification appears to be related to the notches on the
internal portion of the hammer for full cock, half cock and
quarter cock positions," prosecutors said in documents filed on
Wednesday asking a judge to authorize transfer of the revolver,
ammunition and a jacket belonging to the film’s weapons handler
for forensic testing.
"It appears that these notches may have been partially removed
or ground down so that they are less prominent."
An FBI test of the gun found it would not fire unless the
trigger was pulled. Baldwin said he never pulled the trigger.
Prosecutors said additional testing was required to see if the
hammer was modified, the source of the modification and what
impact it might have on the firearm's performance.
Ammunition found on the set was requested for testing for manner
of assembly and origin of manufacture, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors have yet to reveal how live rounds got onto the set
of the low-budget movie production.
"Rust" weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is the only person
still facing charges over Hutchins' death.
Prosecutors also requested Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
transfer Gutierrez-Reed's jacket to them for gunpowder-residue
testing
Her attorneys on Thursday filed a motion to dismiss the criminal
case against her on grounds of lack of prosecutorial authority
and violations in Gutierrez-Reed's due process rights.
Prosecutors last month said they would continue to charge
Gutierrez-Reed with involuntary manslaughter. A preliminary
hearing on the charge is set for Aug. 9-16.
(Reporting By Andrew Hay; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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