US actor Alec Baldwin, facing manslaughter charges for the fatal shooting on the set of his film, sought a “speedy trial” from a New Mexico judge on Wednesday.
Charged again on Friday for his involvement in the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the production of “Rust,” Baldwin, who was a producer and actor on the film, was holding a Colt .45 during rehearsals when it accidentally discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Despite repeatedly denying responsibility and asserting that he did not pull the trigger, Baldwin faces renewed charges in the ongoing attempt to hold someone accountable for the tragic incident. The shooting prompted calls for stricter regulations regarding firearms on movie sets, causing shockwaves throughout Hollywood.
According to court documents, Baldwin is required to appear for an initial hearing virtually or in person by February 1. In response, his defense team, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, filed a request for a prompt trial to “minimize public vilification and suspicion and to avoid the hazards of proving his innocence that often arise after a lengthy delay in prosecution.”
Initial manslaughter charges against 65-year-old Alec Baldwin were dropped in April last year, citing “new facts” requiring further investigation, leading to a grand jury indictment issued last Friday. Baldwin, potentially facing up to 18 months in jail if convicted, has consistently denied responsibility for the accidental shooting on the “Rust” set.
The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, responsible for weapon supply and maintenance, faces trial next month on charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. Meanwhile, Dave Halls, the film’s safety coordinator and assistant director who provided Baldwin with the loaded gun, agreed to a plea deal, resulting in a six-month probation sentence.
The tragic incident on the “Rust” set led to a temporary halt in filming, but production resumed last year. Matthew Hutchins, the widower of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who settled a wrongful death suit with the film’s producers, took on an executive producer role for the project.
Director Joel Souza, who was wounded in the incident, also returned, expressing the bittersweet nature of completing the film and emphasizing the commitment of the cast and crew to finish what was started by Halyna and himself.
