The charge of involuntary manslaughter against Alec Baldwin in the 2021 fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film “Rust” will not be dropped.
Judge Sommer has delivered his verdict following a week of arguments from both sides. Baldwin’s attorney, Alex Spiro, and special prosecutor Kari Morrissey presented their cases during a hearing held on May 17.
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Baldwin’s legal team filed a motion in March to dismiss the indictment, accusing state prosecutors of unfairly stacking the deck against the actor known for his role in “30 Rock.” They claimed that the prosecutors engaged in an abuse of the system, flagrantly trampling on the rights of an innocent individual.
According to the motion, the state failed to provide the grand jury with any favorable or exculpatory testimony and documents that they were required to present. Additionally, the grand jury was not informed of their right to review and request this information.
Baldwin pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter in late January. The trial was set to commence on July 10.
In March, the jury convicted Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer of “Rust,” for involuntary manslaughter in the tragic death of cinematographer Hutchins, who was 42 years old. Following the verdict, Gutierrez-Reed received the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison, and her legal team has expressed their intentions to appeal the decision.
Alec Baldwin was accused by prosecutors of displaying ‘bullyish behavior’ on the set of the film ‘Rust’ and altering his account of the incident.
New Mexico prosecutors claimed Baldwin showed ‘bullyish behavior’ on ‘Rust’ set
According to the 316-page filing by prosecutors, Baldwin is portrayed as a demanding actor and producer who disregarded safety measures, ignored directions from the director, and gave inconsistent accounts of the shooting incident.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Baldwin’s statements were constantly changing, with each instance presenting a different version of events. Furthermore, his later statements often contradicted his earlier ones.
What happened to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed: The conclusion of the trial of the “Rust” armorer
According to sources, Baldwin’s defense team is actively working to prevent the case from being considered based on its merits. Moreover, if the case does proceed on its merits, the defense team aims to undermine the credibility of the prosecution, investigation, and witnesses through media coverage. Their ultimate goal is to make a conviction unlikely, regardless of Mr. Baldwin’s actual criminal responsibility.
According to Morrissey and Lewis, they asserted that Mr. Baldwin assumed the role of lead actor and producer on the project. They further claimed that he exhibited a sense of urgency, often rushing the cast and crew. Additionally, Mr. Baldwin was frequently heard screaming and cursing, not only at himself but also at crew members, without any apparent reason.
According to witnesses, Mr. Baldwin’s conduct on the set of Rust demonstrated a lack of emotional control and disregard for the impact of his actions on others. It has been testified that this behavior contributed to safety compromises on set.
Prosecutors have attributed the death of 42-year-old Hutchins to a combination of factors, namely the negligence and inexperience of 24-year-old armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and the complete lack of concern for the safety of those around him exhibited by Baldwin on set.
Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charge in the fatal ‘Rust’ shooting case has been denied dismissal by a judge, as reported by USA TODAY.
