SANTA FE, New Mexico – Actor Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter case over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the “Rust” movie set is set to proceed after a judge rejected Baldwin’s latest attempt to dismiss the case.
Baldwin’s defense team sought to have the case thrown out after the firearm that killed Hutchins was damaged during forensic testing at an FBI lab. The gun’s condition was a key piece of evidence, with Baldwin’s attorney, John Bash, arguing that the firearm’s alteration violated Baldwin’s rights and hindered the defense’s ability to properly examine it.
Despite the damage to the gun during testing, prosecutors maintained that it did not deprive Baldwin of a fair trial. In her ruling, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer found that Baldwin’s team had not presented sufficient evidence to support the claim that the unaltered gun could have exonerated him.
The ruling allows for jury selection in the case to begin in July, with Baldwin facing a potential 18-month prison sentence if convicted. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The incident occurred on the “Rust” movie set in October 2021 when a prop gun discharged a live round of ammunition, fatally striking Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has claimed that the gun went off without him pulling the trigger.
In a separate development, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the movie’s armorer, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins’ death earlier this year. Gutierrez-Reed has filed a motion to be released from prison as she seeks a new trial, alleging that state prosecutors withheld information about the damaged firearm during her original trial.
Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers argued that the lack of disclosure regarding the firearm’s condition constituted government misconduct and deprived her of a fair trial. Prosecutors have not yet responded to these allegations.
The legal proceedings surrounding the “Rust” tragedy continue to unfold, shedding light on the complexities and challenges faced by those involved in the case. The upcoming trial will be closely watched as the quest for justice and accountability moves forward.