Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty in involuntary manslaughter case over the fatal shooting of Rust cinematographer

The actor has pled not guilty in the case that could see him spend 18-months in prison. Photo / AP

Actor Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie and waived his first formal court appearance, in court documents filed this week.

Baldwin and a weapons supervisor were charged last month with felony involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died shortly after being wounded during rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe in October 2021.

Baldwin agreed to forgo a hearing to have his rights explained to him. A judge has set conditions of release that allow Baldwin to have limited contact with potential witnesses in connection with plans to complete the filming of Rust.

Work on Rust was halted with Hutchins’ death. Photo / Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office via The New York Times

Prosecutors and defence attorneys are preparing for a likely preliminary hearing within a few months to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

Other provisions of Baldwin’s pretrial release include a prohibition on consuming alcohol and against any possession of weapons, including firearms.

“Defendant is permitted to have contact with potential witnesses only ... in connection with completing the Rust movie and other related and unrelated business matters; provided, however, that defendant is not permitted to discuss the accident at issue,” state District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said in a signed order.

The involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin, a lead actor and co-producer on Rust, and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a US$5000 (NZ$8026) fine under New Mexico law.

Authorities said Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died after being shot with a prop gun by Alec Baldwin. Photo / Instagram @halynahutchins

Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas said when the charges were announced that they were “a terrible miscarriage of justice”. He said Baldwin relied on the professionals with whom he worked and “had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun”.

Work on Rust was halted with Hutchins’ death. Rust Movie Productions says filming is expected to resume this spring, without the use of real weapons or ammunition.

Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, will be the film’s new executive producer, fulfilling the terms of a legal settlement to a wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and other Rust producers.

A related documentary is planned that would detail the completion of the film and the life of Hutchins.

Gutierrez-Reed is due to appear remotely at a court hearing, Her attorney says Gutierrez-Reed will enter a plea of not guilty.

Prosecutors say assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on set, has signed an agreement to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon, explaining that he may have handled the gun improperly before it was given to Baldwin.

A judge is scheduled to consider approval of the plea agreement in March. Halls waived his first appearance in court.