Actor Alec Baldwin’s legal team has made a potentially dispositive move in the ongoing saga surrounding the tragic “Rust” shooting incident. Last Thursday, they submitted a motion to a Nevada court asking for the dismissal of the involuntary manslaughter charge filed against Baldwin stemming from the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set.
Baldwin’s defense claims that the grand jury process was tainted, accusing the prosecution of deliberately withholding crucial evidence and failing to instruct jurors adequately on the definition of “involuntary manslaughter.” The filing alleges that the special prosecutor, Kari Morrissey, displayed a prejudiced approach, especially in omitting to inform jurors that the gun used could potentially discharge without the trigger being pulled — a claim Baldwin has maintained since the incident occurred.
The new motion comes after the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a separate trial.
Alec Baldwin seeks to dismiss 'Rust' shooting manslaughter charge, claims Nevada Grand Jury is 'rigged' https://t.co/2qXMWKclvd
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Baldwin’s legal argument centers on the alleged failure of prosecutors to present the grand jury with a balanced view of the incident, notably neglecting to feature witnesses that could have potentially exonerated Baldwin. The motion argues that the oversight irretrievably damages the fairness of the trial. It goes on to claim the indictment has unfairly and severely impacted Baldwin, branding him guilty in the public eye and ending his chance at a fair trial because of bias and prosecutorial misconduct.
The motion to dismiss said of the claimed bias and improper prosecutorial conduct: “Enough is enough. This is an abuse of the system and of an innocent person whose rights have been trampled to the extreme.”
“The State had one goal — indict Baldwin, no matter the truth, no matter the rules or the Court rulings, and no matter what it took to do so,” the motion continues. Baldwin’s lawyers claim that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey has been “vindictive and malicious” in her presentations to the grand jury.
While the Baldwin trial is slated to begin on July 9, the new motion to dismiss indicates an upcoming tumultuous prelude to what promises to be a highly publicized trial.
It remains essential to balance Baldwin’s challenge of the case against him before trial with the sobering reality of a life needlessly lost and the need for accountability in workplace safety.
