SANTA FE, N.M. – Alec Baldwin has entered a plea of not guilty and waived arraignment in the case of the fatal shooting involving cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” more than two years ago.
Baldwin, 65, is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, negligent use of a firearm, or, in the alternative, involuntary manslaughter without due caution or circumspection. His legal team is pushing for a speedy trial for the Hollywood star.
As part of his release conditions, Baldwin must comply with all federal, state, tribal, and local laws and ordinances and is prohibited from possessing firearms or dangerous weapons. He is also not permitted to consume alcohol or illegal substances, leave the United States without written permission from the court, maintain contact with an attorney, and avoid contact with the alleged victim(s) or potential witnesses.
The release conditions also stipulate that Baldwin is allowed to have contact with potential witnesses from the “Rust” film, but is not permitted to discuss the incident at issue. He is also entitled to engage in related business matters such as promoting the movie and similar activities.
The actor’s defense team is insisting on a speedy trial, indicating a tactic to put pressure on the prosecution when they believe the charges may not be strong. However, a criminal defense attorney suggests that a quick trial might not be in Baldwin’s best interest, especially given the potential impact of the trial of the “Rust” armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, whose trial is set to begin in February.
Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the gun that resulted in Hutchins’ death, and an accidental-discharge test conducted by the FBI concluded that the gun could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger.
The original charges against Baldwin were dropped in April 2023, with the prosecution citing the need for further investigation following the revelation of new facts. The inquiry and forensic analysis required could not be completed before the start of Baldwin’s scheduled preliminary hearing.
Given these developments, it remains to be seen how the case unfolds as both Baldwin’s and Gutierrez-Reed’s trials progress in the wake of the tragic incident on the set of “Rust.”