Process - "Rust" trial against Alec Baldwin will not be discontinued
The attorney for Alec Baldwin (66) have once again failed to prevent the upcoming trial against the Hollywood star regarding the manslaughter charge in connection to the shooting incident. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer in Santa Fe, New Mexico announced on Friday (local time) that Baldwin will have to appear before a jury. The trial against the actor and producer regarding the death of a cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021 due to a shooting incident on the set of the Western "Rust" is scheduled to begin as planned on July 9 with the selection of jurors.
Baldwin's attorneys had argued that the weapon from which the shot was fired had been damaged during later FBI investigations. This would have denied them a potentially exonerating piece of evidence for their client. Previously, the defense had filed an unsuccessful motion to dismiss the case due to procedural errors.
In interviews, Baldwin had maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the gun. The FBI investigators examined, among other things, whether a possible malfunction of the Colt could have caused the shot to be fired. According to a weapons expert's assessment, the trigger must have been pulled.
After the death of Halyna Hutchins in October 2021, an indictment against Baldwin was filed in January 2023 but was later dropped in March. It was stated at the time that further investigations and forensic analyses were necessary. Baldwin was then indicted again in January of this year. He pleaded not guilty.
In a separate trial, the armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for weapons safety on the set of "Rust," was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. In April, the judge sentenced Gutierrez-Reed to the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.
Baldwin acted as the lead actor and producer in the film. During a rehearsal for a scene, the fatal shot was discharged. It is unclear how the live ammunition reached the set. Baldwin has consistently taken responsibility for the tragic accident. In the event of a conviction, he faces up to 18 months in prison.
- The FBI's investigation into the shooting incident on the set of "Rust" also examined whether a malfunction in the Colt pistol could have led to the accidental discharge, but according to a weapons expert's assessment, the trigger was indeed pulled.
- The People of the State of New Mexico have charged Alec Baldwin with manslaughter in connection to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, and the case will commence on July 9 in Santa Fe, USA.
- Despite arguments from Baldwin's legal team that the weapon used in the incident had been damaged during FBI processes, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer decided that the Hollywood star would still stand trial.
- The FBI's investigation into the shooting incident on the set of "Rust" revealed that the weapon, which was in the possession of Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal, contained live ammunition.
