Alec Baldwin asks judge to dismiss involuntary manslaughter indictment in 'Rust' case

2024-12-24 10:20:38 source: category:Finance

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO — Attorneys for Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Thursday to dismiss a grand jury indictment against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western movie "Rust."

His attorneys in a new court filing accused prosecutors of "unfairly stacking the deck" against Baldwin in grand jury proceedings that diverted attention away from exculpatory evidence and witnesses.

The indictment in January charged Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, at a movie ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

That prevented the jury from asserting their obligation to hear testimony from director Joel Souza, who was wounded in the shooting while standing near Hutchins, as well as assistant director and safety coordinator Dave Halls and props master Sarah Zachry.

'Rust' movie shooting trialsWhat happens next for Alec Baldwin and his armorer?

"The grand jury did not receive the favorable or exculpatory testimony and documents that the state had an obligation to present," said the court motion signed by defense attorney Luke Nikas. "Nor was the grand jury told it had a right to review and the obligation to request this information."

The motion also asserts that the grand jury received inaccurate and one-sided testimony about the revolver involved in the fatal shooting.

"Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted by a jury last week in the shooting and is being held without bond pending an April sentencing hearing. Involuntary manslaughter carries a felony sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and injuring Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the gun's hammer, but not the trigger.

Prosecutors blamed Gutierrez-Reed at a two-week trial for unwittingly bringing live ammunition onto the set of "Rust" where it was expressly prohibited. They also said she failed to follow basic gun-safety protocols.

Halls last year pleaded no contest to negligent handling of a firearm and completed a sentence of six months of unsupervised probation.

Baldwin is scheduled for trial in July.

More:Finance

Recommend

Jason Kelce Jokes He Got “Mixed Reviews” From Kylie Kelce Over NSFW Commentary

Jason Kelce is slowly working his way back into his wife Kylie Kelce’s good graces.The former Philad

As Houthi attacks on ships escalate, experts look to COVID supply chain lessons

An upsurge in attacks on commercial ships by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea threatens t

Sports Illustrated may be on life support, but let me tell you about its wonderful life

One day, not long before he died, I was talking on the phone with longtime Sports Illustrated writer