Alec Baldwin 'Rust' Case: Gun Used in Halyna Hutchins Shooting Destroyed by State, Lawyer Says

etonline.com:

Alec Baldwin's attorney, Alex Spiro, told First Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer at a Thursday hearing in New Mexico that his legal team, as part of its discovery, wanted to see the gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Except there's one problem — Spiro said the state destroyed the gun.«The court, I don't think, is aware at this point, but I think I should tell the court that the firearm in this case was destroyed by the state,» Spiro said during the virtual hearing. «So, that’s obviously an issue and we’re going to have to see that firearm, or what’s left of it.»New Mexico State prosecutors did not respond after Spiro made the assertion.

At that same hearing, which also was attended by armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's attorneys, Spiro filed a waiver so Baldwin does not have to attend any status conferences moving forward.Baldwin formally entered a not guilty plea to one count of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the fatal shooting on the set of back in October 2021.

Like Baldwin, Gutierrez-Reed was also charged with involuntary manslaughter.Under New Mexico law, involuntary manslaughter is a fourth-degree felony and is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.Baldwin has maintained time and again that he did not pull the trigger on the weapon he used during rehearsal that would ultimately fire a live bullet, killing Hutchins and injuring the film's director, Joel Souza.