Alec Baldwin's legal team faced another setback on Friday as their bid to dismiss his involuntary manslaughter case was denied. The case stems from the tragic accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film 'Rust' in New Mexico in 2021.
Despite arguments that Baldwin had no reason to believe the gun contained live ammunition, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled against dismissing the case during a virtual hearing where Baldwin was not present.
The defense team also raised concerns about the FBI's handling of the firearm, alleging that it was damaged to the point where they couldn't properly examine it. However, this motion is still pending before the judge.
During the hearing, the judge also denied the prosecution's request to grant immunity to movie set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in exchange for her testimony. Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the incident, has invoked her Fifth Amendment right and declined to cooperate.
Prosecutors plan to argue at trial that Baldwin displayed reckless behavior on set, including ignoring safety protocols and firing a blank round at an assistant. They also presented evidence suggesting that Baldwin may have pulled the trigger, contradicting his claims of innocence.
The hearing is ongoing, with further developments expected as the trial date approaches.
