Actor Alec Baldwin has been granted permission to skip a preliminary hearing next month in the on-set shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.
A waiver of appearance was filed by Baldwin and his legal team over the weekend, and approved by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Monday.
“I understand that I am charged with the following offense or offenses under the law of the State of New Mexico: Involuntary Manslaughter … in two alternatives,” the filing obtained by Fox News Digital reads.
“I understand that I am entitled to personally appear before the Court at every stage of the criminal proceedings,” it continued. “After reading and understanding the above, I request that the Court permit me to waive a personal appearance in court for the following proceedings: PRELIMINARY HEARING.”
Baldwin was scheduled to appear in court for a two-week preliminary hearing, set to begin on May 3. It is being held to determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial after the death of Hutchins, a cinematographer who was shot and killed while working on the set of the Western “Rust.”
Hutchins was prepping for a scene inside the Bonanza Creek Ranch, on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Oct. 21, 2021, when she was shot with a prop gun handled by leading man Baldwin, who is also a producer on the film. The 65-year-old actor at the time was seated in a church pew and practicing pulling a pistol from his holster when the gun discharged.
Director Joel Souza was also wounded.
In January, Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were formally charged in connection with Hutchins’ death. They both face two counts of involuntary manslaughter, while first assistant director David Halls has pleaded guilty to a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Halls, who has also agreed to testify against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, was sentenced at the end of March to six months of probation.
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have both pleaded not guilty.
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