Santa Fe, New Mexico – Opening statements commenced Wednesday in the trial of actor Alec Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter nearly three years after the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust” in New Mexico.
Prosecutor Erlinda Johnson emphasized Baldwin’s reckless behavior on set, accusing him of disregarding firearm safety rules by pointing a gun at a person and pulling the trigger. The defense, on the other hand, shifted blame to the film’s armorer and first assistant director for allowing a live bullet to be loaded into the prop gun.
Baldwin, who pleaded not guilty to the felony charge, faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted. The trial, which began with 12 jurors and four alternates, is expected to last about two weeks.
The incident occurred during a scene rehearsal when Baldwin, practicing a “cross draw” move with a prop gun, accidentally fired a live round, fatally shooting Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. This marks the third criminal case related to the on-set shooting, with the armorer previously found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and the assistant director accepting a plea deal.
In court, prosecutors argued that Baldwin failed to follow safety protocols on set and pointed out his negligent actions with the gun. The defense, however, maintained that Baldwin did not pull the trigger, attributing the tragedy to the live round loaded by others and cleared as safe before reaching Baldwin.
Throughout the trial, tensions have risen as accusations of misconduct by prosecutors surfaced, leading to turnovers and legal battles. Baldwin’s role as a producer was initially a focal point for potential liability, but a recent ruling excludes this from consideration at trial.
As the trial progresses, new evidence and testimonies continue to shed light on the events leading to the unfortunate shooting incident on the set of “Rust”.