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Protection attorneys for actor Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico choose on Thursday to dismiss a grand jury indictment towards the actor within the deadly capturing 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 capturing 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,” stated the courtroom movement signed by protection legal professional Luke Nikas. “Nor was the grand jury advised it had a proper to overview and the duty to request this info.”
The movement additionally asserts that the grand jury obtained inaccurate and one-sided testimony concerning the revolver concerned within the deadly capturing.
“Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted by a jury final week within the capturing 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 high quality.
Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing her 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 stated she did not observe fundamental 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.
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