Protection lawyers for Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico choose on Thursday to dismiss a grand jury indictment against the actor in the lethal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western motion picture “Rust.”
The indictment in January billed Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, at a motion picture ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe.
Baldwin has pleaded not responsible to the charge. His lawyers in a new courtroom filing accused prosecutors of “unfairly stacking the deck” versus Baldwin in grand jury proceedings that diverted interest absent from exculpatory proof and witnesses.
That prevented the jury from asserting their obligation to hear testimony from director Joel Souza, who was wounded in the shooting when standing close to Hutchins, as properly as assistant director and protection coordinator Dave Halls and props grasp Sarah Zachry.
“The grand jury did not receive the favorable or exculpatory testimony and documents that the state had an obligation to existing,” said the courtroom movement signed by protection lawyer Luke Nikas. “Nor was the grand jury explained to it experienced a appropriate to evaluation and the obligation to request this information and facts.”
The motion also asserts that the grand jury acquired inaccurate and a person-sided testimony about the revolver concerned in the lethal shooting.
“Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted by a jury past 7 days in the shooting and is being held without having bond pending an April sentencing listening to. Involuntary manslaughter carries a felony sentence of up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 high-quality.
Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and injuring Souza. Baldwin has taken care of that he pulled back the gun’s hammer, but not the induce.
Prosecutors blamed Gutierrez-Reed at a two-7 days trial for unwittingly bringing are living ammunition on to the set of “Rust” where it was expressly prohibited. They also mentioned she unsuccessful to follow simple gun-security protocols.
Halls past year pleaded no contest to negligent dealing with of a firearm and done a sentence of 6 months of unsupervised probation.
Baldwin is scheduled for demo in July.
