After being re-indicted by a grand jury on a charge of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Halyna Hutchins in the Rust to shoot, Alec Baldwin has filed its first legal response.
According to court documents obtained by ET, Baldwin’s legal counsel emphasized their “demand for a speedy trial, discovery and exculpatory information, notice of defense seeking to call witnesses,” as outlined in the Sixth Amendment.
The documents state that Baldwin is seeking a speedy trial to “minimize public vilification and suspicion” and to “avoid the dangers associated with proving his innocence, which often arise after a long delay in prosecution.”
Baldwin has been ordered to appear before a New Mexico judge on February 1 at 11 a.m. to enter a plea. The actor has the option to appear in court via telephone or video conference.
Special prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason Lewis made the announcement Friday a grand jury had indicted the actor with a charge of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted of a fourth-degree felony, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
“We look forward to our day in court,” Baldwin’s attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro told ET in a statement at the time.
In October, special prosecutors announced they planned to present the case to a grand jury in Santa Fe and argue that probable cause existed to criminally charge the 65-year-old actor.
The special prosecutors said they reached the conclusion after an extensive investigation that they say produced “additional facts” showing Baldwin “is criminally guilty of the death of Halyna Hutchins and the shooting of [Rust director] Joel Souza.”
Hutchins, 42, was murdered on October 21, 2021 on the set of Rust – at the Bonanza Creek Ranch – when the Baldwin prop gun suddenly went off, hit and kill the cameraman and injuring Souza.
Baldwin has repeatedly maintained that he didn’t pull the trigger on the prop gun.
In the months since tragedy struck New Mexico, lawsuits were submitted, prosecution were submitted — then fell downfor Baldwin — and accusations were made, including that the film’s gunmaker, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, consumed alcohol and smoked marijuana during the filming of the Western.
In January 2023, prosecutors charged Gutierrez-Reed with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. She pleaded not guilty. Her trial starts in February. Rust finally resumes filming in Montana and production completed in May.
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