(Los Angeles) Prosecuted for manslaughter, Alec Baldwin formally pleaded not guilty on Wednesday before the American courts more than two years after the fatal shooting which cost the life of the director of photography of his western, Rust.
The 65-year-old actor was expected in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing, but his defense waived his right to appear and sent a document saying he is pleading not guilty.
The actor, who faces up to 18 months in prison, denies pulling the trigger and has always maintained that he was assured that his weapon was harmless.
The case dates back to October 2021. The filming of Rust had turned into a tragedy on a ranch in New Mexico (southwest of the United States), when Alec Baldwin had pointed a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets, but a very real projectile had killed the director of the photography Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.
This rare news item shocked Hollywood and provoked calls to ban firearms on sets.
But it also provoked suspicions of amateurism around this low-budget production: certain Hollywood actors recalled that the management of firearms on set was already subject to strict rules.
Star of Rust, Alec Baldwin also served as producer on the film. But he is only being pursued as an actor.