The trial of actor Alec Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of ‘Rust’ continued on July 11, 2024, in New Mexico. Prosecutors portrayed Baldwin as a reckless actor who disregarded fundamental safety rules, while his defense team argued he was simply following standard procedures on a movie set.In their opening statements, prosecutors claimed that Baldwin had a ‘flagrant disregard for gun safety’ and ‘played make-believe with a real gun’. They presented behind-the-scenes video of Baldwin handling a revolver on set, highlighting his alleged lack of attention to basic firearm safety. Special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson argued that Baldwin skipped safety checks and recklessly handled the revolver.Baldwin’s defense team, led by attorney Alex Spiro, countered that the actor committed no crime and was ‘an actor acting’ when the incident occurred. Spiro emphasized that the responsibility for weapon safety lay with the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, and assistant director David Halls. The defense also claimed that Baldwin was told the gun was ‘cold,’ meaning it was safe to use without real ammunition.The first witness, a sheriff’s deputy, testified about the chaotic scene following the shooting. The trial is expected to feature testimony from various witnesses, including filmmakers, investigators, and weapons experts. It will also delve into the mechanics of the weapon and whether it could have fired without a trigger pull.The case has put Hollywood norms under scrutiny and raised questions about on-set safety practices. If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison. The trial is being livestreamed and is expected to last until mid-July.
Key points
- Prosecutors argue Baldwin recklessly handled the prop gun and violated ‘cardinal rules’ of firearm safety.
- Defense claims Baldwin was following standard procedures and responsibility lay with the armorer and assistant director.
- The trial is expected to last until mid-July and will feature testimony from various witnesses.
- If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
Contradictions👾The defense argues that Baldwin was not responsible for checking the gun’s safety, while the prosecution claims he should have participated in safety checks.
👾There are differing accounts of whether Baldwin pulled the trigger, with the prosecution claiming he did and Baldwin maintaining he did not.
