Actor Alec Baldwin has entered a not guilty plea to a charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a fatal shooting on the New Mexico set of the film 'Rust', court documents show.
Mr Baldwin made the plea while exercising his right to waive a first court appearance that was set for tomorrow, according to a court filing.
New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies in January charged Mr Baldwin and the movie's set armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Prosecutors last week downgraded charges against Ms Gutierrez-Reed and Mr Baldwin, reducing the possible prison time for the actor who fired a live round during a rehearsal, killing Ms Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Mr Baldwin's defence team argued that he had been charged retroactively with a New Mexico firearms law that was passed after the shooting took place on 21 October, 2021.
Ms Gutierrez-Reed will make a first court appearance on Friday via video link, her solicitor Jason Bowles said.
First assistant director Dave Halls also plead not guilty in a court filing in which he waived a 24 February first court appearance.
Mr Baldwin and Ms Gutierrez-Reed now faces a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted. Before the prosecutor dropped the alternative charge, he risked a minimum five-years in jail.
