Rust Criminal Trial Pushed to 2024, Alec Baldwin Files to Dismiss Civil Case

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Rust Criminal Trial Pushed to 2024, Alec Baldwin Files to Dismiss Civil Case

The trial of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has been delayed into next year, according to a recent report from Deadline.

New trial date set for next year due to scheduling issues

The trial — originally set to occur in December 2023 — has been pushed back to February 21, 2024. The trial was moved by State district court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Monday, and is now set to run Feb. 21 through March 6 in Santa Fe (via the Associated Press).

According to Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney (via TheWrap), the date was moved due to “scheduling issues with the amount of witnesses that need to be interviewed.”

The trial stems from the October 2021 incident in which Alec Baldwin inadvertently discharged a prop gun loaded with a live round. The shot killed Hutchins, and both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were initially charged with felony involuntary manslaughter. However, the charges for both were dropped down to reflect new gun laws passed after the shooting.

Earlier this year, two new special prosecutors were also appointed to the case. Both decided to drop manslaughter charges entirely against Baldwin. Gutierrez-Reed now faces involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering charges, and has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, she faces up to three years in prison.

As for Baldwin, attorneys representing the actor and El Dorado Pictures have filed a motion to dismiss a recent civil case brought against them in February by crew members Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin and Reese Price. That case accuses Baldwin and the producers of the film of “negligent and reckless conduct.”

Alongside a motion to dismiss the case entirely, both parties have also filed a motion to have the case stayed until the criminal trial has been finished.