A US judge has allowed Alec Baldwin not to appear in court during a preliminary hearing related to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in Hutchins’ death in 2021 on set. Rust.
The cinematographer died after being hit by live bullets from a prop gun held by Baldwin.
A two-week preliminary hearing, scheduled to begin May 3, will decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
Baldwin and his legal team applied for the waiver and was approved by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Monday.
“I understand that I am charged with one or more of the following offenses under the laws of the State of New Mexico: Involuntary homicide… under two options,” the filing reads.
(Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
“I understand that I have the right to appear in person in court at all stages of criminal proceedings.
“After reading and understanding the foregoing, I request the court to grant me an individual pardon for the following proceedings: preliminary hearing.”
The news comes after the New Mexico district attorney overseeing the case said she would obey a judge’s order to resign as prosecutor.
Baldwin’s attorney had previously called for Carmack-Altwies to be dropped from the case, claiming she was too distracted with her role as state legislator.
Mary Carmack-Altwies announced the appointment of attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis as new special prosecutors in the case.
Additional report from PA
