New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer concluded that evidence pertaining to Alec Baldwin’s co-producer role on the set of the movie “Rust” is inadmissible, aligning with the arguments presented by the defense. Mr. Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter and is gearing up for his trial over the accidental death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
In 2021, a firearm held by Mr. Baldwin discharged on the set, killing Ms. Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Mr. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty. Judge Sommer considered requests from prosecutors and defense attorneys to determine what evidence, testimony, and arguments would be allowed during the trial.
Mr. Baldwin’s attorneys argued to exclude his role as a co-producer from the trial, saying it was irrelevant to the negligence allegations. Special prosecutor Erlinda Johnson had attempted to include the information, asserting it highlighted his awareness of on-set safety.
Despite being excused from the pretrial hearing at the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, Mr. Baldwin chose to attend, accompanied by his defense attorney, Alex Spiro. The judge has cleared the way for the prosecution’s firearms experts to testify about Mr.
Baldwin’s handling of the revolver and whether the gun was functioning properly. Prosecutors argued that a state workplace safety investigation, which found serious violations on set, should be excluded from the trial, claiming it was incomplete and untrustworthy, and the judge.