...By Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
Alec Baldwin Allowed to Skip Preliminary Hearing in Rust Shooting Case
Alec Baldwin has been permitted to skip the preliminary hearing in the “Rust” shooting case by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer.
The hearing was scheduled to begin on May 3, 2022, and would have determined whether there was enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
The shooting took place on the set of the Western movie “Rust” outside Santa Fe, N.M., on October 21, 2021, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the injury of the film’s director Joel Souza.
Baldwin’s legal team filed a waiver of appearance, which was approved by Judge Sommer. In the filing, Baldwin acknowledged that he was charged with involuntary manslaughter and requested the court’s permission to waive his personal appearance at the preliminary hearing.
Baldwin was initially facing up to five years in prison, but the gun enhancement charge was dropped, and he still faces the involuntary manslaughter charge.
Baldwin Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit and Files Negligence Suit Against Crew Members
Alec Baldwin settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Hutchins’ family and filed a negligence suit against four crew members.
Baldwin alleged that several crew members failed to maintain safety on set by handing him the loaded gun.
The gun enhancement charge was also dropped against the movie’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.
Assistant Director Sentenced for Negligent Use of Deadly Weapon
Assistant director David Halls was sentenced to six months probation on March 31 for failing to check for live bullets before handing Baldwin the gun.
As part of the plea, Halls agreed to take a firearms safety course within 60 days, pay a $500 fine, and not possess or consume alcohol or drugs without a prescription.
Commentary
The “Rust” shooting case has been a highly publicized event, leading to the death of a cinematographer and injuring the film’s director.
Alec Baldwin, the actor and producer of the movie, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and was scheduled to appear in court for the preliminary hearing.
However, he has been allowed to skip the hearing with a waiver of appearance approved by the judge.
This decision could be seen as controversial since Baldwin’s presence at the hearing could have provided some insight into the events leading up to the shooting.
The dropping of the gun enhancement charge against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed could be seen as a significant legal victory for both parties.
Baldwin still faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a sentence of up to 18 months if convicted. Baldwin has denied responsibility for Hutchins’ death and argued that he did not pull the trigger of the prop gun.
The settlement of the wrongful death lawsuit and the filing of the negligence suit against crew members indicate that Baldwin believes that others were responsible for the safety on the set.
The sentencing of the assistant director, David Halls, for his role in the shooting shows that there were several lapses in safety protocols on the movie set.
The sentence seems relatively light, considering the severity of the incident.
Halls’ plea of no contest to the charge of petty misdemeanor negligent use of a deadly weapon suggests that he accepts some responsibility for the shooting.
The requirement that he takes a firearms safety course could be seen as an attempt to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
