Alec Baldwin : “Alec Baldwin Pretrial Hearing: Fatal Shooting Case”

A New Mexico judge is preparing for the upcoming trial of actor Alec Baldwin, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of a Western movie.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer will oversee a pretrial hearing in Santa Fe to address requests from both the prosecution and defense teams regarding the admissibility of evidence, testimony, and legal arguments. The hearing is expected to be lengthy, with Baldwin’s legal team opting to waive his appearance at pretrial proceedings.

Baldwin’s trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection on Tuesday and is anticipated to span a period of 10 days.

Recently, the judge ruled in favor of allowing crucial firearms experts for the prosecution to testify regarding Baldwin’s handling of the revolver and the condition of the weapon prior to the tragic incident.

The defense team has requested to exclude any mention of Baldwin’s role as a co-producer on “Rust,” arguing that it is irrelevant to the charges of negligence and could potentially confuse the jury. Prosecutors, however, argue that Baldwin’s position as a producer may have influenced his actions and disregard for safety protocols on set.

There is a dispute between the defense and prosecution concerning Baldwin’s authority as a producer over crew members responsible for handling weapons and ensuring safety measures.

Prosecutors are pushing to prevent the inclusion of a state workplace safety investigation report in the trial, claiming it is incomplete and untrustworthy. Baldwin is facing a single felony charge of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.

The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins’ death and received an 18-month prison sentence. She is currently appealing the conviction.

The tragic incident occurred in October 2021 during a rehearsal on set, where Baldwin was performing a cross-draw maneuver with the revolver that resulted in the fatal shooting of Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza.

Baldwin maintains his innocence, claiming that the gun discharged accidentally as he followed instructions to point it towards Hutchins behind the camera. He asserts that he pulled back the hammer, not the trigger, leading to the unintentional firing of the weapon.

In an effort to shape the narrative of the trial, Baldwin’s legal team is seeking to exclude any references to actor Brandon Lee’s tragic death during the filming of “The Crow” in 1993. Lee was fatally shot with a gun containing a leftover bullet from a previous scene, which was mistakenly used during filming with blank rounds.

Prosecutors have agreed to avoid mentioning “The Crow” but argue that Baldwin was aware of the risks associated with firearms, even in the absence of live ammunition. The defense counters that the presence of live rounds on set was inconceivable.

Additionally, prosecutors are aiming to block the introduction of a letter signed by crew members that contradicts claims of a chaotic or unsafe environment on the “Rust” set prior to the fatal shooting.

The defense is challenging the conclusions of the safety investigation that place blame on assistant director Dave Halls, who has pleaded no contest to negligent firearm use and may testify during Baldwin’s trial.

Rust Movie Productions paid a $100,000 fine for violating state safety regulations under a settlement agreement in 2023. Prosecutors argue that the investigation’s findings are unreliable and should not be presented as evidence.

Baldwin’s legal team contends that the safety report should be admissible, and they are advocating for state occupational safety officer Lorenzo Montoya to testify during the trial.

To maintain a fair trial process, prosecutors are requesting the exclusion of any accusations of “prosecutorial misconduct” and personal attacks during the proceedings. They also seek to prevent the introduction of evidence aimed at eliciting sympathy for Baldwin, such as expressions of remorse or the impact on his family, arguing that it is irrelevant to determining guilt.