‘This was Alec Baldwin’s big mistake’: Terrell
. >> Harris: GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO BRING IN OUR LEGAL EXPERTS. MATT FINN, THANK YOU. MERCEDES COLWIN FOX NEWS LEGAL ANALYST AND LEO TERRELL, ATTORNEY AND FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR. I WILL BEGIN WITH YOU, LEO, YOUR REACTION LEARNING THE CHARGES AGAINST ALEC BALDWIN. >> WELL, I SENT TALKING POINTS TO YOU AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES BALDWIN MADE WAS TO GO ON THE STEPHANOPOULOS PROGRAM AND SAY HE DIDN’T PULL THE TRIGGER. IT WAS A LIE. THAT’S GOING TO COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM. I’M NOT SURPRISED. THE CHARGE AGAINST THE ARMORER MAKES SENSE. THEY HAD AN
AFFIRMATIVE DUTY TO INSPECT THAT GUN. THEIR FAILURE TO INSPECT THE GUN IS THE REASON WHY THEY CONDUCTS GOES BEYOND SIMPLE NEGLIGENCE. >> Harris: MERCEDES, I MENTIONED THERE WAS A CIVIL CASE ALREADY WON AGAINST ALEC BALDWIN. HOW DOES THAT PLAY A ROLE IN ANY OF THIS, OR MAYBE IT DOESN’T? >> WELL, IT SETTLED FOR ALEC BALDWIN SO WE DON’T HAVE ANY SWORN TESTIMONY BUT IT IS EXACTLY TO LEO’S POINT. IF THERE HAD BEEN SWORN TESTIMONY AND ALEC BALDWIN SAYING I DIDN’T PULL THE TRIGGER. YOU JUST HAVE SEVERAL COMMENTARY IN THE PUBLIC AIRWAYS BEING INTERVIEWED AND NOT
UNDER OATH. HE COULD SORT OF FUDGE THAT A LITTLE BIT IF HE ACTUALLY TAKES THE STAND. WE KNOW IN THE PAST WHEN THESE HIGH-PROFILE INDIVIDUALS AND CELEBRITIES TAKE THE STAND EVEN
SAID IT WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT BUT THE PROSECUTOR SAID WHAT YOU DID WAS CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT AND RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A PERSON, END OF STORY. >> Harris: YOU KNOW, LEO, WE ARE GETTING A BETTER LOOK AT THIS AND READ SOMEWHAT WHAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME. THE ARMORER IS NAMED IN THIS. PRODUCER ALEC BALDWIN AND THE ARMORER FACING INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES IN THE DEATH OF HUTCHINS. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEE ON SET. THAT PERSON HAD COMPLAINED THROUGH THEIR ATTORNEYS THEY WERE GIVEN TOO MANY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALSO IN
CHARGE OF PROPS AND OTHER THINGS. THE ARMORER BY THE VERY NAME PLAYS A HUGE ROLE ENOUGH TO GET NAMED IN CHARGES HERE. >> OH, HARRIS. FORGET WHAT THE ATTORNEY SAID ON HER BEHALF. THE ARMORER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WEAPONS ON A MOVIE SET. SHE CANNOT ESCAPE THAT RESPONSIBILITY. SHE IS THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBLE PERSON FOR THE COLLECTION AND HANDLING OF WEAPONS. HER DUTY IS SKY HIGH. DON’T BE SURPRISED IF THERE IS A SHOOTING MATCH I HATE TO USE THAT TERM BETWEEN HER AND BALDWIN AS TO WHO HAD THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY. IF ONE WAS CHARGED, BOTH HAD
TO BE. THE ARMORER HAS THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY, AIRIS. >> Harris: HANNAH GUTIERREZ REED IS THE ARMORER BEING CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER ALONG WITH ALEC BALDWIN. WE’LL GO BACK TO OUR REPORTER AND BACK TO YOU TWO TO PICK UP MORE INFORMATION. WE ARE ALL DIGGING INTO THIS. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE DETAIL I’M LOOKING AT, I WILL HAVE MY TEAM SEND IT TO BOTH OF YOU. MATT FINN NOW. AS WE LOOK AT THIS WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND PERSON WHO IS NAMED IN ALL OF THIS. WHAT NEW INFORMATION DO YOU HAVE?
>> IT’S ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DAVID HALL SIGNED A PLEA AGREEMENT FOR THE CHARGE OF NEGLIGENT USE OF A DEADLY WEAPON. A THIRD PERSON INVOLVED HERE. BOTH BALDWIN AND HANNAH REED CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 18 MONTHS IN JAIL IN NEW MEXICO. THE PROSECUTOR WRITES IF DAVID HALLS, ALEC BALDWIN OR HANNAH REED HAD DONE THEIR JOBS HUTCHINS WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY, IT IS THAT SIMPLE, END QUOTE. >> Harris: MATT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONTINUING TO GET INFORMATION IN VIA YOU. WE’LL COME BACK TO YOU AS THE NEWS WARRANTS. MERCEDES
AND LEO ARE WITH ME TODAY AS LEGAL EXPERTS. ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT AS YOU START TO DIG INTO THIS, LEO AND MERCEDES IS, IN FACT, THERE WERE COMPLAINTS OF NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR GETTING THE JOB DONE ON THIS SET. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT NOW? THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CIVIL CASE. THAT WAS ABOUT MONEY, TOO, WITH THE FAMILY SUING, THE VICTIMS. WHAT ABOUT THIS? WHAT ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT THEY COULDN’T GET THEIR JOB DONE BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH CASH? >> THAT’S A GREAT POINT BUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT OF
COURSE THEY WERE NEGLIGENT. IT IS PROOF POSITIVE THE STANDARD FELL BELOW WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE. SO IF YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH CASH AND YOU DON’T HAVE THE STANDARDS IN PLACE IN ORDER TO INSURE THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE MOVIE, THAT’S WHERE CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE COMES IN. AND THERE IS THE — YOU WERE ON NOTICE, ALEC BALDWIN AND REED AND HALL. INTERESTING HE DID A PLEA DEAL. WHEN YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT, THAT’S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND THE BACK CHANNEL COMMUNICATION, NOT SURPRISING HE WILL STEP FORWARD AS A WITNESS AS IT CONTINUES TO A JURY
TRIAL. WHEN YOU HAVE THAT TYPE OF EVIDENCE, YOU ARE ULTIMATELY, THE PROSECUTOR SAID ALL OF YOU ARE ON NOTICE THERE WAS BELOW STANDARDS AND TAKING PLACE AND YET YOU STILL DIDN’T TAKE THE EXTRA CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS DIDN’T HAPPEN. >> Harris: SUPPORTED TODAY BY FOXNEWS.COM OUR DIGITAL TEAM HAS DONE GREAT DIGGING ALONG THE WAY IN THE 15 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN SINCE THIS HAPPENED. AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED JUST ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, MERCEDES, THERE WAS A LETTER, NOTICE SENT THAT NAMED BALDWIN SPECIFICALLY
IN A REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING TO PROSECUTE THE CASE AS WELL. SO THIS IS FOR PROSECUTION. THE D.A. EXPLAINED SHE ANTICIPATED PROSECUTING UP TO FOUR INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING BALDWIN AT THE TIME. TALK TO ME, LEO, ABOUT HOW A CASE LIKE THIS PULLED TOGETHER AND HOW YOU NARROW IT DOWN? >> MERCEDES POINTED IT OUT, THE FACT THAT ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS DAVID HALL HAS ACCEPTED A PLEA DEAL, HE ACCEPTED A CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY. SO I GUARANTEE THAT’S A MAJOR PIECE OF NEWS BECAUSE THAT INDICATES TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY THAT THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL CASE. THE FACT THAT HE,
DAVID, WAS ONE OF THE TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HANDLED THAT GUN, EXPECT HIM TO BE A MONUMENTAL WITNESS IN HIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS FAILURES IN HANDLING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROTOCOL THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE WHEN YOU ARE HANDLING A GUN. I GUARANTEE YOU, THAT IS THE SINGLE PIECE OF BIG EVIDENCE BEING ANNOUNCED TODAY. THE PLEA DEAL. >> Harris: SO MATTHEW HUTCHINS IS THE HUSBAND OF HELENA HUTCHINS. WE MAY NEVER KNOW ALL THE DETAILS AND MAYBE SHOULDN’T IN THESE CASES. THEY AREN’T RELEASED IN TERMS OF THE MONETARY REMUNERATIONS. HUTCHINS WANTED TO BE AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND HAS
BEEN NAMED THAT. I’M WONDERING WHAT THAT DOES? ARE WE LOOKING AT A SITUATION WHERE HOLLYWOOD COULD ACTUALLY BEND AND START TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY? BECAUSE SOMEBODY HANDED ALEC BALDWIN WHAT THEY CALLED A COLD GUN. AND GUTIERREZ REED WHO NOW FACES INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES SPUN IT. SHE MADE SURE THERE WERE NO BULLETS IN THE CHAMBER. SO EITHER PEOPLE WERE REALLY BAD AT THEIR JOBS AND/OR — MAYBE IT’S AN AND/OR, WHAT CULPABILITY DOES ALEC BALDWIN HOLD? DON’T YOU CHECK THE GUN YOURSELF? >> THAT’S SUCH A GREAT POINT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT
COULD HAPPEN IF IT IS A LIVE GUN AND A BULLET IS IN THAT CHAMBER. WE KNOW FROM THE F.B.I. FORENSICS THERE IS NO CONCEIVABLE WAY THIS GUN COULD HAVE DISCHARGED INVOLUNTARILY AS EXPRESSED BY MR. BALDWIN ON THE AIRWAVES. YES, EVERYONE WILL QUESTION THIS. YOU ARE A SMART MAN, A RICH MAN, YOU HAVE LOTS OF CHILDREN, YOU HAVE A LOVELY LIFE, WHY WOULDN’T YOU, KNOWING THAT MS. HUTCHINS IS A MOM OF A 6-YEAR-OLD AT THE TIME, WHY WOULDN’T YOU CHECK THE GUN? THAT IS WHAT WILL RESONATE WITH THE JURY ESPECIALLY AS LEO SAID, ESPECIALLY IF YOU
HAVE DAVID HALL COMING FORWARD AND SAY HEY, I FELT RESPONSIBLE. I AM CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT TOOK PLACE. THIS IS DAMNING EVIDENCE THAT CAN FALL UPON ALEC BALDWIN’S SHOULDERS AND THERE IS SO MUCH FINGER POINTING AND ALL THE CIVIL LAWSUITS ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH ALEC BALDWIN SUING GUTIERREZ REED AND HALLS AND ALL OF THAT. >> Dana: I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS. EVERYONE HANDLING THAT GUN HAD AN AFFIRMATIVE OBLIGATION TO INSPECT THE GUN. NO EXCEPTION. IT WASN’T LIKE JUST BECAUSE IT WAS BEING POINTED. EVERYONE WHO TOUCHED THAT GUN HAD AN AFFIRMATIVE OBLIGATION TO
LOOK INSIDE THAT GUN. ALL THE CIVIL SETTLEMENTS WITH THE FAMILY, NONE OF THAT IS ADMISSIBLE IN THE CRIMINAL CASE AND NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROSECUTION, WON’T BE ADMITTED. >> Harris: THAT MAKES SENSE. SOME OF FOX NEWS DIGITAL EARLIER REPORTING NAMING THAT WITH BALDWIN’S NAME IN IT THEY WOULD NEED EMERGENCY FUNDING JUST TO PROSECUTE THE CASE BECAUSE IT WAS TICKING UP TO FOUR INDIVIDUALS TO LOOK AT INCLUDING BALDWIN, WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THAT’S THE CASE, THAT MAKES SENSE THAT EVERYBODY WHO HAD POSSIBLY TOUCHED THAT GUN WOULD HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT. I JUST KNOW THAT
AS A GUN OWNER MYSELF, THAT YOU CHECK IT. YOU JUST CHECK IT. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOUR MOM HANDED IT TO YOU. IT COULD BE SOMEBODY THAT YOU COMPLETELY — BUT YOU ALWAYS — I GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH A WARRIOR. THAT’S WHAT YOU DO. NOT EVERYBODY IS TAUGHT THAT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW RESPONSIBLE AND CULPABLE ON A MOVIE SET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW AND DON’T KNOW. >> EXACTLY. — >> THAT’S TRUE. >> MOST JURORS SITTING IN THE JURY BOX IF IT GOES TO A JURY THERE MIGHT BE PLEA DEALS
ESPECIALLY GOING TO BE SO MUCH PRESSURE TO CLOSE THIS DOWN. WHO WANTS TO TAKE THE STAND AND WANTS TO RELIVE THE HORRORS OF THIS KNOWING WHAT IS AT RISK AND KNOWING THIS IS THE LOWEST FELONY THAT COULD BE CHARGED IN THIS TYPE OF CASE. IT’S NOT MURDER. SOMETIMES PROSECUTOR OVERCHARGE A CASE. THIS IS NOT OVERCHARGED AT ALL. THIS IS ONE OF THE LOWEST FELONIES REGARDING THE DEATH OF AN INDIVIDUAL. THE PROSECUTORS DID IT RIGHT. THEY DIDN’T OVERCHARGE. IT IS SUCH A BROAD STANDARD AND YOU ARE EXPRESSING EXACTLY WHAT THE JURY WOULD BE THINKING. EXACTLY WHAT
THEY WOULD BE THINKING THERE, HARRIS. THEY WILL THINK HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE CHECKED THE GUN AND GUTIERREZ NOT CHECKED THE GUN AND HALLS. HALLS IS GOING TO SAY I DIDN’T CHECK THE GUN SO I WAS CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE AND WHY I PLED OUT. SO ALL OF THESE THINGS — >> Harris: WE KNOW THAT GUTIERREZ REED AT LEAST, WE KNOW THAT IT’S BEEN REPORTED SHE SPUN THE CYLINDER TO SHOW HALLS WHAT WAS IN THE GUN. THAT’S ACCORDING TO HER LAWYER LEO. >> I’M RUNNING DOWN THE FOOTBALL FIELD. IF I’M PICKING A JURY I WANT GUN OWNERS
ON THAT JURY. THEY KNOW GUN SAFETY. I AM THINKING DOWN THE LINE I WANT GUN OWNERS ON THAT JURY POOL. >> Harris: YOU MENTIONED, MERCEDES, THIS IS THE LOWEST FELONY REGARDING DEATH AND YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE THEN OF GETTING WHERE THEY NEED TO BE HERE AND GETTING A GUILTY VERDICT ON THIS. YOU SAID SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAYBE IT WON’T GO TO TRIAL. >> I HONESTLY MERCIFULLY THESE TWO SHOULD SIT DOWN WITH THEIR LAWYERS AND CONTEMPLATE PLEADING OUT. WHY PUT THE FAMILY THROUGH THIS? YOU WILL HAVE MR. HUTCHINS, THE WIDOWER SITTING
THERE. MIGHT HAVE THE CHILD SITTING THERE, REHASH ALL THIS STUFF. THE WITNESSES COMING FORWARD. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS — SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WALKED OFF THE SET BECAUSE THEY FELT SAFETY PROTOCOLS WEREN’T IN PLACE AND THEY THEY FELT IT WAS UNSAFE. YOU WILL HAVE A WHOLE PARADE OF INDIVIDUALS SAYING HOW TERRIBLE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE. IF I WERE MR. BALDWIN OR MS. REED’S ATTORNEY I WOULD STRESS TO THEM THE ABILITY TO PLEAD IT OUT AND LET IT GO. >> QUICK COUNTER. VERY QUICKLY, TWILIGHT ZONE ACTOR WAS KILLED. HE WAS CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND FOUGHT IT
AND GOT ACQUITTED. IF ALEC BALDWIN WANTS TO STAY IN HOLLYWOOD HE WILL FIGHT THE CHARGES. >> Harris: WHAT WILL HE FACE IF HE LOSES? >> HE HAS EVERY INCENTIVE TO FIGHT THESE CHARGES. EVERY INCENTIVE. >> Harris: WHAT HAPPENS IF HE LOSES? >> IF HE LOSES, IT IS UP TO 18 MONTHS IF JAIL AND A FEW THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE. $5 THOUSAND IN FINES. I THINK WE’RE IN A SOCIETY NOW THAT ACCEPTING ACCOUNTABILITY ACTUALLY AND GOING THROUGH A PATH OF REDEMPTION WILL PROBABLY SPEAK MUCH BETTER FOR MR. BALDWIN THAN FIGHTING SAYING THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO AND
RESURRECTING THE STATEMENTS HE MADE THAT I DIDN’T PULL THE TRIGGER WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE FORENSICS WILL SAY THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE AND YOU A
