Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter

[2_on]

Breaking News: Alec Baldwin and the armorer for the film “Rust” will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the on-set 2021 shooting. https://t.co/iMz6XNCvt1
- The New York Times (@nytimes) January 19, 2023
Prosecutors announced that Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter for the accidentally shooting death of Halyna

Comments

[bigirons]

he probably ends up with an alford plea

[mayjailer]

i only learned about those when i watched the paradise lost trilogy last year, what a wild legal loophole

[frejasface]

I think those should be available WAY less often

[glitterslugs]

i've never heard of it and i'm so confused

"A guilty plea entered as part of a plea bargain by a criminal defendant who denies committing the crime or who does not actually admit his guilt. In federal courts, such plea may be accepted as long as there is evidence that the defendant is actually guilty."

so you say you're guilty legally, even if you think you aren't, and the evidence says you are? and what even is the outcome of that? how bizzare

[buries]

???? But if he's guilty, then????

You can tell I skipped my ONTD Law classes.

[ninasafiri]

I found the explanation here to be more helpful.

An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which a defendant maintains their innocence and does not admit to the criminal act they are accused of, but admits that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to persuade a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty, and thus agrees to be treated as guilty.

So more like a plea where the person is claiming innocence but does not want to risk losing a trial. Opposed to a No Contest plea where you don't claim innocence or guilt but accept being treated as guilty?

Not a lawyer, but I guess this works out for getting released from prison with time served or avoiding being charged with a more serious crime like 1st degree murder??

[xdecadentx]

Is this like 'no contest' or is it legally different?

[bigirons]

they're two sides of the same coin. with an alford plea you are technically pleading guilty while maintaining innocence, no contest you are agreeing to sentencing but pleading not guilty. i haven't looked into the specifics of the civil case but how criminal defense chooses to peruse alford vs no contest is somewhat related to the nuances of the civil litigation.

in any event i can't see them trying to take this to a jury. everyone in santa fe knows someone who worked on this mess and theres a lot of hostility.

[lauridsen09]

You're basically acknowledging that the evidence against you may be enough to convict but you maintain your innocence.

[xdecadentx]

HOW IS THAT ALLOWED?

[a_way_of_sin]

I think you don't admit guilt when pleading no contest, which then can't be be used as evidence in a civil case

[insomniachobs]

Basically, it's "I refuse to admit guilt but I recognise that enough evidence exists to make a conviction likely."

[xdecadentx]

Why would anyone be allowed to do that??

[insomniachobs]

Beats me. I don't see what it serves that a not guilty plea doesn't.

[melancolour]

Less time in court = less money spent by the court

[recognitions]

White man pass tbh