Movie set accident - "Rust" trial against Alec Baldwin will not be discontinued
The attorney for Alec Baldwin have once again failed to prevent the upcoming trial against the Hollywood star regarding the manslaughter charge in the shooting incident on the set of the Western "Rust." Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer in Santa Fe, New Mexico announced on Friday (local time) that Baldwin must face a jury. The trial against the actor and producer, scheduled to begin on July 9 with jury selection, will proceed as planned following the death of a cinematographer by a gunshot in October 2021.
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.
Alec Baldwin claims he didn't pull the trigger
The Hollywood star had maintained in interviews that he did not pull the hammer back of the gun. FBI investigators examined, among other things, if a possible malfunction of the Colt could have caused the shot to be fired. According to a weapons expert's report, the hammer must have been pulled back.
Following the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death in October 2021, charges against Baldwin were filed in January 2023 but were dropped three months later. It was stated at the time that further investigations and forensic analyses were required from the district attorney. He was then indicted again in January 2023. Baldwin pleaded not guilty.
In a separate trial, the armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for weapon safety on the set of "Rust," was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. In April, the judge sentenced her to the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.
Baldwin acted as the lead actor and producer for the film. During a rehearsal for a scene, the fatal shot was discharged. It is unclear how the live ammunition made it to 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 investigated the gun used in the incident, addressing Baldwin's attorneys' claims about potential damage affecting evidence. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, criminal charges against Alec Baldwin for manslaughter were initially dropped and then reinstated following further investigations.
