US police say criminal charges may still be filed in Alec Baldwin shooting
October 28, 2021, 3:23 am

US police say criminal charges may still be filed in Alec Baldwin shooting

USA-US police/Pixabay

The BBC reported, US police say that criminal charges may still be filed over last week's fatal shooting on a film set in New Mexico.

Actor Alec Baldwin accidentally shot dead cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded a director on the set of the Western film Rust.

"All options are on the table," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said of any potential charges. "No one has been ruled out at this point."

Investigators also said there was "some complacency" around safety on the set.

Presenting the department's initial findings, Sante Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said: "We suspect there were other live rounds found on set."

He added: "We're going to determine how those got there, why they were there, because they shouldn't have been there."

He said police had recovered 600 pieces of evidence so far - including three firearms and 500 rounds of ammunition.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins/Facebook

Sheriff Mendoza also said a "lead projectile" had been removed from the shoulder of wounded director Joel Souza and handed over as evidence.

He said about the killing: "I think the facts are clear - a weapon was handed to Mr Baldwin. The weapon functional and fired a live round killing Ms Hutchins and injuring Mr Souza."

According to the BBC, the sheriff told reporters there were up to 100 people on the set of the film when the shooting happened on Thursday.

He also confirmed that two other people had handled the gun, an antique Colt .45 revolver, before it was given to Mr Baldwin: the film's armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director Dave Halls.

Mr Halls told investigators he failed to check all the rounds in the gun before handing it over, according to a court document made public on Wednesday.

He reportedly called out "cold gun" as he gave it to Mr Baldwin, meaning he believed it to be safe.

Ms Gutierrez-Reed, meanwhile, told investigators that guns had been safely secured shortly before the shooting but ammunition had not been. She said guns were usually kept in a safe that only a few people had access to.

"We're going to try to determine exactly how happened and if they should have known that there was a live round in that firearm," Sheriff Mendoza said.

Mr Baldwin and the film's producers have hired a private law firm to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, according to the Reuters news agency.

Several legal experts, however, have said it is unlikely that criminal charges will be filed against Mr Baldwin.

The actor, known for his work on shows like 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live, is named as both an actor and producer on Rust. He is co-operating with investigators and has expressed his shock over what he described as a "tragic accident".

The incident has sparked debate about safety regulations on Hollywood sets and the use of prop guns on productions.

"Obviously I think the industry has had a record recently of being safe," Sheriff Mendoza told reporters. " I think there are some safety issues that need to be addressed by the industry and possibly by the state of New Mexico."

Source: BBC

Egypt's decision to cancel state of emergency proves it has eliminated terrorism China restricts smaller cities from building 'super high-rise buildings'

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.