I have nothing but contempt for Baldwin and believe him culpable, but since the gun was not properly checked with each chamber cleared through the loading gate and dry fired by the crewmember who gave it to Baldwin or by him as industry standards require, it is possible there was a round in the chamber under the hammer. And if Baldwin was screwing around in an unsafe manner as reported and the revolver was a model without a transfer bar safety the jackass could have fired the weapon by partially pulling the hammer back and releasing it. No trigger pull needed but he would still be just as responsible as if he had cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger. Baldwin can play all the word games he wants, he still killed that young woman through his penny pinching and irresponsibility, egotistical assholiness.
So far the Sheriff has explained to the press that SAA revolvers like the one used on the set can be ordered with a transfer bar safety or without by enthusiasts for realism. What the Sheriff hasn't said is if the revolver on set had a transfer bar safety, if it did Baldwin is gonna burn because that means he had to cock the hammer and pull the trigger.
@GtHawk I still ain't buying "Ah didin pull da triggur" crap.
How old is Baldwin?
How many years ago did he first co-star in a western?
How many handguns has he handled in movies over the years?
He knew EXACTLY what he was doing when he pulled that trigger. I seriously doubt he purposely aimed at that woman with the intention of murdering her,but was so casual about it for all practical purposes that he just didn't give a damn.
And I STILL ain't buying he didn't pull the trigger or that he pulled the hammer back part way,let it loose,and it fired the round under the chamber. He has handled far too many SAA style revolvers to not have understood what would happen.
Callous indifference pretty much spells it out.