Alec Baldwin demands Rust manslaughter trial begins 'soon' to 'minimise public vilification'

The Hollywood star was last week charged with involuntary manslaughter over shooting of Halyna Hutchins
Josh Salisbury25 January 2024
The Weekender

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Actor Alec Baldwin has demanded a speedy trial after he was charged with involuntary manslaughter on the set of the film Rust, in a bid to "minimise public vilification".

The Hollywood star was indicted last week on a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Halyna Hutchins, who died on the film set in New Mexico two years ago.

Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer of the movie, was pointing a gun at Ms Hutchins during a rehearsal in October 2021 when the weapon went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

According to court documents first obtained by showbiz news site, TMZ, Baldwin has until February 1 to officially plead to the charges. 

He has consistently denied any responsibility in the shooting, saying he pulled back the hammer, but not the trigger of the gun, and it fired.

In the court filings, his lawyers argue media interest in his case could alter a jury's ability to be impartial. 

They state a quick trial would "minimise public vilification and suspicion", and may "avoid the hazards of proving his innocence that often arise after a lengthy delay in prosecution".

Halyna Hutchins
A photo of Halyna Hutchins at a memorial service held for her
AP

The indictment accuses Baldwin of negligent use of a firearm, while he also faces an alternate charge of involuntary manslaughter "without due caution or circumspection".

Prosecutors argue that Baldwin should have personally checked that the gun was not loaded with live ammunition, with live ammo being banned on movie sets. 

If convicted, the 65-year-old faces up to 18 months in prison.

An involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin over Ms Hutchins’s death had been formally dismissed in April.

A report based on new analysis of the gun used by Baldwin and markings it left on a spent cartridge concluded that the trigger had to have been pulled or depressed.

The indictment was signed by Ms Morrissey and dated to Friday.

A civil lawsuit was also brought against Baldwin by crew members of the Rust movie, and his subsequent motion to have it dismissed was denied by a US judge in August.

The lawsuit claimed Baldwin and the production company behind the film caused “intentional emotional distress” and “physical trauma” to crew members as a result of negligence and “recklessness”.

The trial of the movie’s armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the case, is scheduled to begin on February 21.

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