Alec Baldwin’s Trial Begins in Fatal On-Set ShootingAlec Baldwin’s Trial Begins in Fatal On-Set Shooting Alec Baldwin appeared in court on Tuesday for the commencement of his manslaughter trial stemming from a fatal shooting on the set of the Western film “Rust.” In 2021, Baldwin’s character was rehearsing a scene when a live round discharged from his revolver, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin, 66, maintains his innocence, claiming he did not knowingly pull the trigger and was unaware the gun was loaded. However, prosecutors contend that he acted recklessly on set and has repeatedly changed his story since the incident. After failed attempts by Baldwin’s attorneys to have the case dismissed, the trial is now underway in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jury selection began on Tuesday, with opening arguments expected to start on Wednesday. The trial is anticipated to last approximately ten days. The case has garnered widespread attention due to Baldwin’s fame and the rarity of on-set deaths. Opinions on the matter are divided, with some expressing sympathy for Baldwin and others criticizing his alleged negligence. Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey stated that Baldwin exhibited a lack of emotional control and disregard for the well-being of others on the set. If convicted, Baldwin faces a maximum of 18 months in prison. During Hutchins’s fatal rehearsal, Baldwin was instructed to point the weapon at her, according to his account. He claims it discharged without his pulling the trigger. The film’s gunmaker was previously convicted of manslaughter in the same court and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Her trial highlighted arguments that prosecutors may present against Baldwin, such as violating basic gun safety rules. Defense attorneys have argued that Baldwin’s role as a producer on “Rust” should not increase his culpability. However, the judge has ruled that prosecutors can still use that information during the trial. Baldwin’s legal team sought dismissal of the case based on damage to the weapon by an FBI testing lab, which they claim prevented them from challenging the conclusion that the trigger had been pulled. The judge rejected this argument and ruled the trial could proceed.
Alec Baldwin arrived at a New Mexico courthouse Tuesday for the start of his long-awaited trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal shooting on the set of a Western film.
The Hollywood star pointed a gun at camerawoman Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal for a scene in “Rust” when a live round went off, killing her and wounding the film’s director.
Baldwin, 66, says he didn’t know the gun was loaded and didn’t pull the trigger. Prosecutors say he acted recklessly on set and has changed his story repeatedly since the tragic events of October 2021.
After Baldwin’s attorneys tried several times to have the case dismissed and failed, the case is now being heard in a Santa Fe court.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, with opening arguments expected to follow Wednesday. The entire trial is expected to last about 10 days.
Due to the “30 Rock” actor’s immense fame and the rarity of on-set deaths, the story has attracted worldwide attention and polarized opinions.
Sympathetic observers see Baldwin as a victim pursued by prosecutors in part because of his status as a celebrity and left-wing darling.
Others see death as the easily avoidable consequence of a movie star’s allegedly unpredictable and self-indulgent behavior.
“When you watch Mr. Baldwin’s behavior on the set of ‘Rust,’ you see a man who has absolutely no control over his own emotions and absolutely no concern for the impact of his behavior on those around him,” said special prosecutor Kari Morrissey.
If Baldwin is found guilty, he could face up to 18 months in prison. It is not yet known whether he plans to present his defense.
– ‘Basic Gun Safety’ –
Hutchins died nearly three years ago, during a rehearsal in a small chapel on the Bonanza Creek Ranch, on a sunny afternoon halfway through the recording of “Rust.”
Baldwin rehearsed a scene in which his character, an elderly bandit cornered in church by two police officers, draws his Colt revolver.
The actor says he was told the gun was safe, that Hutchins instructed him to point the revolver at her and that he did not pull the trigger.
Live bullets are banned on film sets anyway, and Baldwin has said it’s not his responsibility as an actor to police this.
Filming for “Rust” was halted by the tragedy, but wrapped last year on location in Montana.
Earlier this year, the film’s gunmaker was convicted of manslaughter by the same court and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Her trial revealed arguments that prosecutors will likely use against Baldwin.
At the time, attorneys for Armed Forces Attorney Hannah Gutierrez said Baldwin had violated “some of the most basic gun safety rules you can ever learn,” including that you should never point a gun at someone unless you intend to shoot it.
“Alec Baldwin’s behavior and his lack of gun safety in that church on that day is something he will have to answer for,” Morrissey responded.
“Not with you and not today. That will be with another jury, on another day.”
– Defense Boost –
That day has now arrived.
On Monday, Baldwin, dressed in a dark suit and striped tie, with thick-rimmed glasses and close-cropped hair, was in court taking notes as attorneys handled various pre-trial matters.
In support of the defense, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled that prosecutors cannot argue that Baldwin’s additional role as a producer on “Rust” makes him more culpable.
But the fact that the case is finally going to trial is already a victory for the prosecutors, who have already defeated several attempts to have the case dismissed.
Baldwin’s lawyers argued the actor would not receive a fair trial because an FBI testing lab had damaged the weapon.
The FBI concluded that the gun could not have gone off without the trigger being pulled. The defense says they missed the opportunity to refute that conclusion.
The judge was not convinced and ordered the trial to continue.
