American actor Alec Baldwin, charged with manslaughter for a fatal shooting on the set of the film "Rust" in 2021, requested on Wednesday that his trial in a New Mexico court take place at short notice, according to court documents .
On October 21, 2021, the filming of the western “Rust” in New Mexico (southwest of the United States) turned into drama when Alec Baldwin pointed a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets, but including a projectile that was clearly real had killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.
This rare news item shocked Hollywood and provoked calls to ban firearms on sets.
The 65-year-old actor, who faces 18 months in prison if convicted, has maintained his innocence from the start.
He has always maintained that he was assured that his weapon was harmless and also denies pulling the trigger.
“Alleviation of public slander and suspicion”
A first indictment for manslaughter initially led to charges being dropped in April, before a new indictment was announced on Friday by the prosecutor in charge of the case.
The court asked Alec Baldwin to appear virtually or in person to answer the charge before February 1, according to legal documents accessed by AFP.
His defense responded Wednesday with a motion in which the actor requests a speedy trial in accordance with the law.
His lawyers Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro argued that the request was intended "to alleviate public slander and suspicion and to avoid the dangers to proving one's innocence that often emanate from a long delay in prosecution."
“Rust” gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is also charged with manslaughter in the case and her trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 21.
During the initial investigation, the police concluded that it was she who had put the ammunition in the weapon used by Alec Baldwin, instead of a dummy bullet.
The investigation never determined how live ammunition could have ended up on set, where only blank bullets are allowed.