Famed actor Alec Baldwin is facing criminal charges following a tragedy on the set of Rust in October 2021. The former Saturday Night Live star fired a gun on the set of the film. The fatal shot killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured film director Joel Souza. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said that the involuntary manslaughter case could begin as soon as this summer.
“So, what I’m going to do is I’m going to look at my schedule and check the jury selection,” she said. “I’m going to get going to see if we can’t compromise between the July trial dates and the June trial dates. “I’ll put that order out to you [On February 26]”
Baldwin Insists He Did Not Pull the Trigger
Prop guns don’t usually have live ammo. But unfortunately, this one did and killed a person. Baldwin was holding the gun that fired the fatal shot. But the actor insists that he did not pull the trigger.
“Baldwin has insisted from almost Day One that he did not pull the trigger on the 1880s gun that killed Hutchins. He says the gun went off in his hand. Following a botched investigation by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and more recently independent weapons examiners brought aboard by the special prosecutors have taken a different point of view,” Deadline reports.
“Additionally, in violation of standard set safety procedures, Baldwin was pointing the gun right at the unshielded Hutchins when it fired during the rehearsal on the already troubled low-budget film.”
Actor’s Lawyer Slams Trial Scheduling
It has been over two years since the incident occurred. And still little to no progress on a start date for a trial.
During the hearing on Tuesday Baldwin’s lawyer, Alex Spiro was in disagreement over the scheduling of the trial. Spiro argued that because so much time has elapsed since the incident, it should be given top priority.
“There’s no reason why this case, given that it’s years ago now that this tragic accident happened, should not be prioritized given the complexity, media attention, promises made in determining funding, and the other impossible trial schedules of other counsel,” Spiro said.