SANTA FE, NM – A US judge has ruled against actor Alec Baldwin’s motion to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with a fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust” in 2021.

The incident, which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injury to director Joel Souza, occurred during a rehearsal on the film set. Baldwin, who was handling the gun involved in the shooting, has maintained that he did not intentionally fire the weapon, only pulling back the hammer.

Despite arguing that he was not aware the gun contained live ammunition and that live rounds were not supposed to be on set, Baldwin is scheduled to stand trial in July. The case took a turn with the sentencing of the weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to 18 months in prison for her role in the incident.

Initially indicted in January following the emergence of new forensic evidence, Baldwin has pled not guilty to the involuntary manslaughter charge. This charge comes after similar ones were dropped last year just weeks before a scheduled trial.

In a recent virtual hearing, Baldwin’s attorneys accused prosecutors of unethical behavior in securing the grand jury indictment, but their motion to dismiss the case was denied by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer. The judge ruled that the actor will indeed face trial, prompting a statement from Baldwin’s legal team expressing readiness to present their case in court.

The developments in this case have shed light on the complexities surrounding on-set safety protocols and legal responsibilities in the film industry. As the trial approaches, the spotlight remains on Baldwin and the fallout from the tragic shooting that has reverberated throughout Hollywood.