Alec Baldwin’s Move To Have The Involuntary Manslaughter Charges In The “Rust” Shooting Dismissed Is Denied By The Judge

Alec Baldwin’s lawyers filed a plea on Friday asking the court to drop the actor’s involuntary manslaughter conviction stemming from a shooting on the “Rust” set that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The motion was dismissed by a judge in New Mexico.

At a hearing on June 24, a different move to dismiss from Baldwin’s team will be discussed. The trial in this case is scheduled for July in Santa Fe. John Bash, Baldwin’s lawyer, contended in the initial move to dismiss that Hutchins’ shooting death on set in October 2021 was an accident and that Baldwin is “not criminally liable.”

Kari Morrissey, the prosecutor, retorted that Baldwin has prior film industry experience. In March, Gutierrez Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and given an 18-month prison sentence. She is contesting the verdict. Baldwin’s lawyers contended in the second move to dismiss the case that the FBI’s forensic testing damaged the gun used in the shooting, making it impossible for the defense to try to replicate the tests.

After a hearing that is set for next Monday, the court will rule on the motion. Additionally, the prosecution’s request for Guiterrez Reed to be granted “use immunity” was turned down by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer. A witness is shielded from having their own testimony used against them by use immunity.

Trial set for July

Special prosecutors have signaled they intend to portray Baldwin as repeatedly flouting safety protocols on the movie set in the days before the fatal shooting, according to a new court filing.

According to a recent court document, special prosecutors have indicated that they plan to show Baldwin as consistently disobeying safety procedures in the film, which is set in the days leading up to the tragic incident. The prosecution listed numerous incidents in which Baldwin is accused of acting dangerously between October 12 and October 21, 2021, in a notification to Baldwin’s counsel regarding evidence they plan to submit in court next month.

The defendant’s “reckless behavior” will be a major point of emphasis. The evidence “is relevant because it is part of the crime of involuntary manslaughter as it shows defendant’s recklessness or criminal negligence on October 21, 2021, when he shot and killed Halyna Hutchins,” according to the prosecution’s filing.

Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas, declined to comment on the prosecution document on Wednesday but directed CNN to the defense’s most recent submission, in which they urged the court to once more dismiss the charge and accused the prosecution of selectively disclosing information.