The trial of actor Alec Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film ‘Rust’ began on July 9, 2024, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. After a day of questioning, a jury of 16 people, including 5 men and 11 women, was selected from a pool of 70 potential jurors. The trial is set to start with opening statements on Wednesday, July 10.Baldwin, 66, faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted of the felony charge. The actor has pleaded not guilty and claims he did not pull the trigger, but that the gun fired accidentally after he pulled back the hammer. The prosecution alleges that Baldwin disregarded gun safety protocols and acted recklessly by pointing the gun at Hutchins.The trial comes after a series of legal twists, including the initial charging, withdrawal of charges, and subsequent new accusation. A New Mexico judge has ruled that Baldwin’s role as co-producer on ‘Rust’ cannot be used as evidence in the trial, limiting the prosecution’s arguments to Baldwin’s actions with the gun.The case has garnered significant attention, with Court TV set to broadcast the proceedings live. The trial is expected to last about 10 days and will be closely watched by the American film industry, as a conviction could set a precedent for other actors using real guns on set.This trial follows the conviction of ‘Rust’s’ chief weapons handler, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison earlier this year.
Key points
- A jury of 16 people has been selected for Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial.
- The trial, set to begin on July 10, 2024, stems from the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the ‘Rust’ film set.
- Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted, and the case could set a precedent for gun safety in the film industry.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of days the trial is expected to last, with some sources stating 9 days and others reporting 10 days.
