Major Shakeup in ‘Rust’ Trial with Court Set to Begin Within Weeks
What had been a three-person team of lawyers that will prosecute Alec Baldwin on charges of involuntary manslaughter is now down to two. Prosecutor Jason Lewis has filed a motion to withdraw from the case, according to…
What had been a three-person team of lawyers that will prosecute Alec Baldwin on charges of involuntary manslaughter is now down to two.
Prosecutor Jason Lewis has filed a motion to withdraw from the case, according to People.
The charge against Baldwin comes from the 2021 Shooting on the set of the movie “Rust,” in which cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed after a gun Baldwin was holding was fired. The gun had a live round. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 26, the armorer for the film, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter last month and faces 18 months in prison.
The website Extra said that a filing from Baldwin’s team criticizing special prosecutor Kari Morrissey led to dissension among the team of prosecutors, causing Lewis to drop the case.
Morrissey issued a statement saying that claim was wrong, according to Fox News.
“I would like to know who would allege infighting. There has been no infighting. Mr. Lewis and I have been close friends for 25 years and there has been no infighting or significant disagreements,” Morrissey said.
“The Baldwin trial was set very quickly at the request of Mr. Baldwin. Mr. Lewis has obligations to another client between now and July that prohibit him from dedicating the appropriate amount of time to preparing for the Baldwin trial,” Morrissey said.