Rust movie assistant director tells court that armorer was diligent in her work

Dave Halls, who has struck plea bargain, says he was ultimately to blame for fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

The first assistant director on Alec Baldwin’s blighted western movie Rust in 2021, Dave Halls, has given tearful testimony at the trial of the armorer on set that she was diligent in her work – and that he was ultimately to blame for the fatal shooting during rehearsals of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Halls admitted in court in New Mexico on Thursday that he believed it was his fault that Hutchins ended up being shot and killed as Baldwin pointed a gun on set during a practice take, as he did not do a final check on a gun.