Alec Baldwin is back in the media spotlight. This Wednesday he pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter related to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, during the filming of the film Rust. The statement was made through a court document presented before a court in the First Judicial District of Santa Fe, New Mexico, in which the actor waived his arraignment previously scheduled for this Thursday.
Baldwin, 65, was not arrested but strict conditions were imposed on his release. Among them, he was prohibited from possessing firearms and leaving the country. Additionally, he was ordered to maintain limited contact with witnesses linked to the Rust production, and he is expressly prohibited from discussing the incident with them. If convicted, the actor could face a sentence of up to 18 months in prison.
The actor stood by his story that he never pulled the trigger of the prop revolver he was holding during the fatal incident. In April of last year, Baldwin had been acquitted of involuntary manslaughter charges, but the situation took a new turn in October when special prosecutors in the case announced their intention to present the case to a grand jury.
The case focuses on discovering how a real bullet could appear in the drum of a prop pistol, a Colt.45 that Baldwin manipulated during a rehearsal. In addition, forensic experts highlighted that the American interpreter would have had to press the trigger of the gun more to be able to fire it.
The fact that a real bullet was present on the set has raised questions about safety procedures in the production of Rust. A judge ordered the producers to turn over documents that could show that Baldwin would make additional profits if he delivered the project on time and on budget, thus revealing possible motivations behind decisions made during filming.
This is not Baldwin’s first legal confrontation in connection with this case. Last year, after the first accusation, he pleaded not guilty and argued in interviews that he had not fired the weapon. However, forensic experts hired by the prosecution concluded that Baldwin applied pressure on the trigger to cause the gun to fire.
The film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is accused of putting a live bullet in the gun Baldwin was supposed to handle, while first assistant director David Halls accepted a misdemeanor charge. Gutierrez-Reed’s trial is scheduled for February. For his part, Alec Baldwin is released on bail while he awaits the development of judicial events that will determine his responsibility in this case that has shocked Hollywood.
