Judge Refuses Alec Baldwin’s Plea to Dismiss Manslaughter Charges

On Friday, a judge rejected Alec Baldwin’s request to dismiss the manslaughter case.

In January, a grand jury indicted Baldwin on charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal ‘Rust’ shooting.

If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 18 months in prison.

NBC News reported:

Alec Baldwin is set to stand trial on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 killing of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after a New Mexico judge denied the actor’s bid to dismiss the case Friday.

Baldwin, who has pleaded not guilty, is set to go to trial in July.

“We look forward to our day in court,” Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, attorneys for Alec Baldwin, said in a statement Friday.

Judge Mary Marlowe’s decision comes after she heard oral arguments from Baldwin lawyers and prosecutors in a Santa Fe court on May 17.

During that hearing, special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey said, referring to Baldwin, that “the actor has responsibility for the firearms once it is in their hands.”

In 2021, Alec Baldwin faced two charges of involuntary manslaughter related to the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins.

Halyna Hutchins

The incident took place during the filming of ‘Rust’ in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Baldwin fatally shot Hutchins and injured Joel Souza.

Following the shooting, prosecutors sought a further examination of the gun used by Baldwin.

Firearms expert Lucien Haag subsequently determined that the weapon had not been altered.

“Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver,” firearms expert Lucien Haag wrote.

“From an examination of the fired cartridge case and the operationally restored evidence revolver, this fatal incident was the consequence of the hammer being manually retracted to its fully rearward and cocked position followed, at some point, by the pull or rearward depression of the trigger,” Haag wrote.