A judge on Friday denied Alec Baldwin's request to dismiss the manslaughter case.
In January, Alec Baldwin was indicted by a grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal 'Rust' shooting.
If convicted, he faces up to 18 months in prison.
NBC News reported:
Alec Baldwin will stand trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 killing of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, after a New Mexico judge rejected the actor's bid to dismiss the case on Friday.
Baldwin, who has pleaded not guilty, will appear in court in July.
“We look forward to our day in court,” Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, attorneys for Alec Baldwin, said in a statement Friday.
Judge Mary Marlowe's decision comes after she heard oral arguments from Baldwin attorneys and prosecutors in a Santa Fe court on May 17.
During that hearing, Special Prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey, referring to Baldwin, said that “the actor has responsibility for the firearms once they are in their hands.”
Last year, Alec Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting of Halyna Hutchins.
Halyna Hutchins
Baldwin shot and killed 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins and wounded 48-year-old Joel Souza on the film set of 'Rust' in Santa Fe, New Mexico in October 2021.
Prosecutors requested a second analysis of the weapon Alec Baldwin used.
Firearms expert Lucien Haag concluded that the weapon Alec Baldwin used on set had not been modified.
“Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver,” wrote firearms expert Lucien Hedge.
“An examination of the fired cartridge case and the operationally recovered evidence revolver revealed that this fatal incident resulted from manually retracting the hammer to the fully rearward and cocked position, followed at some point by pulling or pressing back on the tractor. ,” wrote Haag.
