SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – Alec Baldwin’s defense team told a New Mexico judge Thursday that a grand jury will consider the actor’s case in the shooting death of a cinematographer on the set of the Western movie “The Last.” He asked that the charges be dismissed.
In a January indictment, Baldwin was charged with manslaughter in the Oct. 21, 2021, death of cinematographer Halina Hutchins at a movie ranch outside Santa Fe.
Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the charges. In the new courtroom, Baldwin’s lawyers accused prosecutors of “unfairly prejudicing” Baldwin during grand jury proceedings by distracting from exculpatory evidence and witnesses.
Because of this, the jury could not insist on hearing testimony from director Joel Souza, assistant director and safety coordinator Dave Halls, and prop master Sarah Zachry, who stood near Hutchins and was injured in the shooting.
“The grand jury received no favorable or exculpatory testimony or documents that the state was obligated to present,” the court motion signed by defense attorney Luke Nikas says. “Nor was he told that the grand jury had a right to examine or a duty to request this information.”
The motion also claims the grand jury received inaccurate and one-sided testimony about the revolver involved in the shooting.
“Rusted” Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was found guilty by a jury last week He is being held without bail pending a sentencing hearing in April in connection with the shooting. Manslaughter is a felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Baldwin is Pointing a gun at cinematographer Halina Hutchins The revolver went off, killing Hutchins and wounding Souza. Baldwin claimed he pulled the gun’s hammer but not the trigger.
During the two-week trial, prosecutors accused Gutierrez-Reed of unknowingly bringing live ammunition onto the set of “The Last,” which was explicitly prohibited. She also said she failed to follow basic gun safety regulations.
Halls pleaded no contest last year to a charge of careless handling of a firearm and was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation.
Mr. Baldwin is scheduled to go on trial in July.
