Alec Baldwin seeks dismissal of grand jury indictment in deadly taking pictures of cinematographer
SANTA FE, N.M. — Protection attorneys for Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico choose on Thursday to dismiss a grand jury indictment towards the actor within the deadly taking pictures of a cinematographer on the set of the Western film “Rust.”
The indictment in January charged Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter within the demise of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, at a film ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe.
Baldwin has pleaded not responsible to the cost. His attorneys in a brand new courtroom submitting accused prosecutors of “unfairly stacking the deck” towards Baldwin in grand jury proceedings that diverted consideration away from exculpatory proof and witnesses.
That prevented the jury from asserting their obligation to listen to testimony from director Joel Souza, who was wounded within the taking pictures whereas standing close to Hutchins, in addition to assistant director and security coordinator Dave Halls and props grasp Sarah Zachry.
“The grand jury didn’t obtain the favorable or exculpatory testimony and paperwork that the state had an obligation to current,” mentioned the courtroom movement signed by protection lawyer Luke Nikas. “Nor was the grand jury instructed it had a proper to evaluation and the duty to request this data.”
The movement additionally asserts that the grand jury obtained inaccurate and one-sided testimony concerning the revolver concerned within the deadly taking pictures.
“Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted by a jury final week within the taking pictures and is being held with out bond pending an April sentencing listening to. Involuntary manslaughter carries a felony sentence of as much as 18 months in jail and a $5,000 tremendous.
Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and injuring Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled again the gun’s hammer, however not the set off.
Prosecutors blamed Gutierrez-Reed at a two-week trial for unwittingly bringing stay ammunition onto the set of “Rust” the place it was expressly prohibited. Additionally they mentioned she did not observe primary gun-safety protocols.
Halls final yr pleaded no contest to negligent dealing with of a firearm and accomplished a sentence of six months of unsupervised probation.
Baldwin is scheduled for trial in July.
