Court Rejects Alec Baldwin's Request to Dismiss Indictment in 'Rust' Shooting Incident
In New Mexico, a court ruling dismissed Alec Baldwin's attempt to have the involuntary manslaughter indictment related to the tragic 'Rust' shooting case thrown out. The indictment stems from the unfortunate death of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer of the film, in 2021.
A judge in New Mexico refused Alec Baldwin’s request to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge against him in the “Rust” fatal shooting case. This case is linked to the tragic death of the film’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, in 2021.
Baldwin’s legal team had claimed that prosecutors behaved improperly during the grand jury proceedings and had asked for the case to be thrown out.
In January, Alec Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the shooting incident. The tragic event occurred on the set of a western movie in New Mexico, where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot and director Joel Souza was injured. The gun Baldwin was holding discharged a live round during a scene rehearsal, leading to the unfortunate incident. This was the second time the actor had pleaded not guilty to charges related to the shooting.
Alec Baldwin in New York in November 2023.
Alec Baldwin in New York in November 2023.
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
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Prosecutors decided to drop the involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin in 2023. They mentioned that they could not move forward due to time constraints and new facts in the case.
However, Baldwin was later charged for a second time and officially indicted in January.
Baldwin’s lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the indictment in March. They accused prosecutors of engaging in misconduct and said prosecutors “publicly dragged Baldwin through the cesspool created by their improprieties – without any regard for the fact that serious criminal charges have been hanging over his head for two and a half years.”
Baldwin’s lawyers claimed the prosecution presented false and inaccurate testimony to the grand jury, withheld exculpatory evidence from the grand jury, and gave them improper and prejudicial instructions.
Special prosecutors in New Mexico defended their case against Baldwin's team's March motion to dismiss the indictment. They argued that Baldwin's behavior on the "Rust" movie set resulted in safety compromises that ultimately led to the fatal shooting.
The judge denied Baldwin's motion to dismiss, stating that there was no prosecutorial bad faith as claimed by his legal team. The judge also affirmed that proper procedures were followed in the grand jury process.
The judge reviewed transcripts from the January 18, 2024 and January 19, 2024 grand jury presentations. The Court determined that the 'prosecuting attorney assisting the grand jury' did not engage in intentional misconduct reflecting dishonesty in the presentation of evidence.
Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film's armorer in charge of firearm safety and storage on set, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March. She received an 18-month prison sentence in April and is currently appealing the decision.
Baldwin's legal team, including Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, expressed their anticipation for the upcoming court proceedings in a brief statement to CNN. They remain optimistic despite the judge's decision not to dismiss the charges. This story is still unfolding, and further updates will be provided.
CNN’s Alli Rosenbloom, Josh Campbell, and Taylor Romine contributed to this report.
Editor's P/S:
The "Rust" shooting case continues to unfold, with Alec Baldwin's request to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge against him denied by a New Mexico judge. Baldwin's legal team had accused prosecutors of misconduct during the grand jury proceedings, but the judge found no evidence of prosecutorial bad faith. This decision marks a significant development in the case, as it means that Baldwin will face trial for his alleged role in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The judge's ruling is a blow to Baldwin's defense strategy, which has focused on shifting blame away from the actor and onto others involved in the production of the film. Baldwin's lawyers have argued that he was not responsible for the live round that was loaded into the gun he was holding, and that he relied on the professionals on set to ensure the safety of the firearms. However, the prosecution has maintained that Baldwin bore some responsibility for the shooting, as he was the one who ultimately pulled the trigger. The judge's decision to deny the motion to dismiss suggests that the prosecution's arguments have merit, and that Baldwin may have a difficult time convincing a jury of his innocence.
