A new assessment into the fatal shooting on the set of the film Rust appears to call into question the testimonies of star and producer Alec Baldwin.

Mr Baldwin denies firing the trigger on the toy gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

According to weapons specialists, the trigger “had to be pulled.”

Representatives for the actor informed the PA news agency that they had no comment on the latest development in the ongoing case.

Charges of involuntary manslaughter were withdrawn against the actor in April, although prosecutors stated that this did not “absolve Mr Baldwin of criminal culpability.”

They stated charges against him could be re-filed in connection with the October 2021 shooting on the set of the western film.

On Tuesday, prosecutors in fresh Mexico received a fresh report produced by weapons specialists Lucien Haag and Mike Haag.

Prosecutors earlier indicated that they had knowledge that there had been an alleged alteration of the gun used by Mr Baldwin on the Rust set, according to the documents.

Lawyers for Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the movie’s armourer who was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, said the Haags report “does not indicate any modification to the gun” and “specifies that the trigger had to be pulled.”

“Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings, and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver,” according to an excerpt from the weapons report included in court documents.

“If the hammer had not been fully retracted to the rear and had slipped from the handler’s thumb while the trigger was not depressed, the half-cock or quarter-cock notches in the hammer should have prevented the firing pin from reaching any cartridge in the firing chamber.”