On the eve of Alec Baldwin ’s involuntary manslaughter trial for the 2021 killing of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins , the multiple Emmy winner just scored a big legal win. Over arguments from prosecutors, a New Mexico judge has determined Monday that Baldwin’s role as a co-producer on the troubled indie Western cannot be entered as evidence into the July 9 starting trial. Baldwin was in court at the defense table when the ruling was announced, as he has been all day.
“I’m having real difficulty with the state’s position that they want to show that as a producer he didn’t follow guidelines and therefore as an actor Mr. Baldwin did all of these things wrong that resulted in the death of Ms. Hutchins because as a producer he allowed these things to happen,” Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer declared today in a pre-trial motions hearing going on right now in Santa Fe.
Related Stories Legal Alec Baldwin, Other 'Rust' Producers Denied Lucrative New Mexico State Film Tax Incentive Legal Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' Criminal Trial Will Go Ahead Next Month, Judge Says Hutchins was fatally shot, and Rust director Joel Souza was injured on October 21, 2021 after the Colt .45 Baldwin was pointing at the director of photography fired off a live round during a rehearsal at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near the New Mexico city. In an approximately two-week trial set to begin with jury selection tomorrow, the not guilty pleading Baldwin faces up to 18 months behind bars and thousands in fine.
