In breaking news, a judge in New Mexico has rejected actor Alec Baldwin’s latest motion to dismiss his indictment ahead of his upcoming criminal trial next month. Baldwin’s legal team had requested the case be dismissed, citing the destruction of the gun used in the shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during forensic testing by the FBI. This decision comes after a separate motion filed by Baldwin’s team on Monday, alleging that prosecutors failed to properly provide evidence required by court procedure, which was also dismissed by the judge.
In related news, attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer on the set of the film “Rust” where the fatal shooting occurred, have requested her release from prison. Gutierrez Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year and sentenced to 18 months in prison, the maximum punishment. Her defense team claims that prosecutors withheld evidence that could have favored her during the trial.
Prosecutors and Baldwin’s attorneys clashed in a recent hearing, with the actor’s team accusing the prosecution of acting in bad faith regarding testing procedures that could have destroyed the firearm. The judge admonished both sides to continue preparing for the trial next month, emphasizing the importance of thorough legal proceedings.
In a separate development, Baldwin’s bid to have the case dropped was denied last week, with the prosecutor arguing that the actor knew he was using a real gun on set and understood the risks involved. The trial is scheduled to commence in July, with both parties continuing to prepare for the legal proceedings. This story will be updated with any new information as it becomes available.
