Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie “Rust.”
The incident occurred during a rehearsal where Baldwin was practicing firing a pistol.
Similar charges were dropped in April, but New Mexico prosecutors cite new forensic evidence as grounds for re-filing.
Baldwin, 65, entered the not guilty plea through a court filing, avoiding a scheduled virtual court appearance in Santa Fe.
The actor has consistently denied pulling the trigger of the Colt .45 pistol, stating he only drew back its hammer.
He argues that he is not responsible for Hutchins’ death, emphasizing his lack of knowledge regarding live rounds in the weapon, as live ammunition was not supposed to be present on the set.
New Mexico special prosecutors commissioned forensic experts to reconstruct the weapon, broken during FBI testing, revealing, according to their report, that the incident could only have occurred if the trigger had been pulled or depressed.
“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,” their report concluded.
Despite expressing shock and sadness over Hutchins’ death, Baldwin has disclosed his struggle to secure acting roles since the incident.
Prosecutors had previously cautioned that charges could be refiled as investigations continued.
Source-BBC
