SANTA FE, New Mexico — Actor Alec Baldwin is facing trial for involuntary manslaughter in the tragic killing of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust” in 2021. Despite his plea of not guilty, Baldwin’s bid to dismiss the case was denied by a New Mexico judge, setting the stage for a trial scheduled to begin in July.
The decision to proceed with the trial came after a hearing where Baldwin’s lawyers and prosecutors presented their arguments to Judge Mary Marlowe, who ultimately ruled against dismissing the case. Special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey emphasized during the hearing that Baldwin bore responsibility for the firearms on set, leading to the fatal incident that claimed Hutchins’ life and injured the film’s director.
Hutchins’ tragic death occurred on October 21, 2021, during a rehearsal on the “Rust” set when Baldwin fired a gun that fatally struck her. Baldwin has maintained that it was a malfunction of the weapon, stating that he did not intentionally pull the trigger. The incident led to Baldwin being indicted on the charge of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison upon conviction.
Following initial charges against both Baldwin and the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, special prosecutors later decided to temporarily dismiss the manslaughter charge against Baldwin due to new details emerging in the case. Gutierrez-Reed was subsequently convicted of involuntary manslaughter but acquitted of tampering with evidence, serving time in a correctional facility as a result.
In a subsequent legal settlement, Baldwin agreed to film the remaining scenes of “Rust” in Montana as part of a resolution with Hutchins’ family. The family had filed a lawsuit against Baldwin, but they ultimately reached undisclosed terms and appointed Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, as an executive producer on the film. Matthew Hutchins expressed a desire to focus on honoring his late wife’s legacy and work, emphasizing that her death was a tragic accident.
As the trial approaches, Baldwin’s legal team remains steadfast in their defense of the actor, vowing to present their case in court. The outcome of the trial will determine the accountability and consequences Baldwin may face in relation to the fatal shooting on the “Rust” set.