Alec Baldwin Files To Dismiss ‘Rust’ Charges Amid ‘Rigged’ Jury Concerns

Actor Alec Baldwin is trying to get the “Rust” charges against him dismissed.

The 65-year-old actor has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed went on a criminal trial earlier this month. It only took three hours for the jury to find him guilty. His sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 15.

Alec Baldwin’s Legal Team Call ‘Rust’ Trial an ‘Abuse of the System’

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Just months before actor Alec Baldwin is scheduled to go on trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico, his attorney asked a judge on Thursday to throw out his case. Baldwin’s legal team accused prosecutors of “breaking almost every rule in the book” in the process of obtaining the indictment. They allege that prosecutors not only leaked information to the press but also failed to present exculpatory evidence to a grand jury.

In addition, prosecutors are also accused of giving a false jury instruction on involuntary manslaughter that “stacked the deck” against the “30 Rock” actor. “Enough is enough,” the lawyer wrote in a court filing Thursday. “This is an abuse of the system and an abuse of innocent people whose rights have been trampled upon in the extreme.”

Baldwin Had The Charges Refiled Against Him In January 2024

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In January 2023, actor Alec Baldwin and “Rust” actress Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were both charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Halyna Hutchins. In April 2023, charges against Baldwin were dropped without prejudice pending further investigation into the incident.

However, after FBI forensics concluded that Baldwin had to pull the trigger for the gun to go off, charges were refiled against him in January 2024. On January 31, Baldwin entered a not guilty plea. His trial has been scheduled for July 9.

Alec Baldwin’s Legal Team Argues Prosecution Is ‘Malice’

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In a motion filed Thursday evening, Baldwin’s legal team claimed that the prosecution failed to provide a witness to the grand jury who had testified that it was not the actor’s job to check for guns before filming the scene, according to Variety. They accused special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, who is leading the case, of failing to adequately inform the grand jury that they could hear from defense witnesses if they wanted.

In addition to hearing testimony from director Joel Souza, Baldwin’s attorneys also want the grand jury to hear from first assistant director Dave Halls, producer Ryan Smith, and other witnesses they believe will support Baldwin’s position. According to the motion, Baldwin’s legal team accused Morrisey of relying heavily on the state’s expert witness, Bryan Carpenter, who asserted that an actor is responsible for the safe handling of firearms despite SAG-AFTRA’s statement to the contrary.

Baldwin’s Lawyer Says Prosecutors Are Trying to Charge Baldwin ‘Regardless of the Truth’

MEGA In Thursday’s filing, Alec Baldwin’s legal team accused Morrissey of engaging in “vindictive and malicious” conduct “from start to finish,” writing that “The State has one goal – to indict Baldwin, regardless of the truth, regardless of the rules or the Court’s decision , and no matter what it takes to do it.”

They went on to claim that Morrissey was quoted as “a source not familiar with the case” by NBC News, where he allegedly stated that this would provide a “teachable moment” and “humble” Baldwin.

The lengthy legal filing also details some of the factual and legal arguments Baldwin’s attorneys are likely to raise at trial, should the motion to dismiss the filing be denied.

Alec Baldwin Has Denied Pulling the Trigger

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Alec Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger in several interviews given following the death of Halyna Hutchins on October 21, 2021. His legal team is expected to argue that the gun was modified to fire without the trigger being pulled. They will also most likely show the condition of the gun, which was broken during FBI testing.

Baldwin’s attorneys also struggled to define the term “involuntary manslaughter” ahead of the trial. They had tried to add an instruction forcing prosecutors to prove that Baldwin had “subjective knowledge of the actual risk that the firearm placed in his hand was loaded with live ammunition.”

However, the standard jury instructions stated only that Baldwin “should have known” the risks of his actions and acted with “willful disregard for the safety of others.”

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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/