Rust shooting SAG-AFTRA defends Alec Baldwin as he faces fresh involuntary manslaughter charge
Alec Baldwin
's upcoming trial in the
Rust
shooting
has been cancelled.
The 65-year-old actor has pleaded
not guilty to involuntary manslaughter
in connection with the death of cinematographer
Halyna Hutchins
— who was fatally shot on the set of the film in October 2021 — and was due to go to court on August 6.
However, on Tuesday (February 6),
a judge reassignment took place
, which triggered the First Judicial District Court to cancel the jury selection date on August 6, canceling the trial date,
Entertainment Tonight
reports.
The former
30 Rock
star entered a
not guilty plea
last week and although he is
free without bail
, New Mexico Judge T Glenn Ellington laid out conditions he must abide by.
Under the terms of release, he
cannot possess firearms or drink alcohol
, and is not to have contact with witnesses in the case, except for business reasons related to the release of
Rust
.
The judge's statement said: "Defendant is permitted to have contact with potential witnesses only in the capacity laid out herein: In connection with the
Rust
movie and other related and unrelated business matters: provided, however, that Defendant is not permitted to discuss the accident at issue, or the substance of his or the witness's potential testimony in this case.
"'Related business matters' is designed to capture promoting the movie and other similar activities.
"'Unrelated business matters' is designed to capture other business relationships between Baldwin and any of the witnesses.
"The Defendant is permitted to continue to use Matthew DelPiano as his agent.
"Discussion about the incident is permitted with the witnesses who are named as civil co-defendants only so long as such conversations are held exclusively in the presence of attorneys for civil litigation purposes."
Alec has also been ordered not to "directly or indirectly request witnesses or members of the cast and crew to participate in the documentary with Moxie films or to obtain statements regarding safety on the
Rust
set outside of standard investigative procedures."
This is the
second time the
Boss Baby
star has been charged
in relation to 42-year-old Halyna's death, after the initial charges were dropped in April 2023.
Prosecutors filed new charges after obtaining evidence based on more forensic testing done on the weapon, and Alec
faces up to 18 months jail time
if he is found guilty.
The film's director Joel Souza, 50, was also shot in the shoulder by the same bullet that killed Halyna.
Alec has maintained that he did not pull the trigger, but testing ordered by special prosecutors concluded the Colt. 45 could have only been fired by the pull of the trigger.
Alec's lawyers are likely to challenge the conclusion, and have noted that the gun was broken during earlier test firing at an FBI lab.