A judge rejected Alec Baldwin’s latest attempt to dismiss his involuntary manslaughter case Friday, allowing the actor’s trial over the fatal shooting of a “Rust” cinematographer to proceed in less than two weeks. Baldwin’s attorneys had asked a New Mexico judge to throw out the case after the firearm that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the “Rust” movie set in 2021 was damaged during forensic testing at an FBI lab.
” Prosecutors said the “gun was unfortunately damaged” during FBI testing but that the damage “does not deprive” Baldwin of a fair trial. The ruling paves the way for jury selection in the case to begin in July. Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty. In a previous attempt to get the case thrown out, Baldwin’s defense team had argued that prosecutors failed to present critical evidence during a grand jury proceeding.