Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of 'Rust' will move forward after a New Mexico judge denied his motion to dismiss the case on May 25, 2024. Baldwin had argued that prosecutors engaged in misconduct during the grand jury process and presented false testimony, withheld exculpatory evidence, and gave improper instructions. However, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer found no evidence of prosecutorial bad faith or intentional misconduct in the grand jury proceedings.
Baldwin is scheduled to stand trial in July 2024 on charges of involuntary manslaughter for the October 21, 2021 shooting that killed Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger and did not know the gun contained live rounds.
The case gained national attention when Baldwin was initially charged in January 2023, but charges were dropped due to new facts in the case. He was indicted again in January 2024, and his lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the indictment. However, their motion was denied on May 25.
Baldwin's legal team argued that prosecutors presented false testimony from witnesses during the grand jury proceedings and withheld exculpatory evidence. They also claimed that prosecutors gave improper instructions to the grand jury, which led to Baldwin's indictment. However, Judge Sommer found no evidence of misconduct and denied Baldwin's motion to dismiss.
The trial is expected to be closely watched as it could set a precedent for how celebrities are held accountable for on-set accidents involving firearms. The outcome of the trial could also have implications for the film industry, as it raises questions about safety protocols and the use of real firearms on sets.
In January 2023, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection to the shooting. She was later convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison. However, Baldwin's trial will focus on his role in the incident and whether he can be held responsible for Hutchins' death.
Baldwin has pleaded not guilty and is expected to present a defense that he did not pull the trigger of the gun and was unaware that it contained live rounds. The trial is set to begin in July 2024.
