US actor Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter. The responsible court in the US state of New Mexico announced this on Wednesday (local time). After the death of a camerawoman in a shooting incident on the set of the western “Rust” in October 2021, Baldwin was indicted by a grand jury in mid-January.
The 65-year-old actor decided not to appear before the judge in a planned video link. Instead, he responded to the allegations in a written statement. According to the court, Baldwin must adhere to several conditions. For example, he is prohibited from owning weapons and consuming alcohol or drugs. He is also not allowed to leave the USA without the permission of the court. Charges were filed against Baldwin in January 2023, but were dropped three months later. The public prosecutor said at the time that further investigations and forensic analyzes were required.
Baldwin, who starred and produced the film, was using a gun while rehearsing a scene when a shot was fired. Camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot. It is unclear how the live ammunition ended up on set. Baldwin has always denied responsibility for the fatal accident. If convicted, the Hollywood star could face up to 18 months in prison, US media reported. Nothing was initially known about a possible trial date.