Alec Baldwin’s recklessness led to shooting on ‘Rust’ set, court hears – National

As opening statements began Wednesday in the long-awaited Oxide During Alec Baldwin’s trial, prosecutors and defense attorneys attempted to portray him in different lights: as a negligent leader in security matters and as an innocent actor playing a role.

Baldwin, 66, is on trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for involuntary manslaughter in the October 2021 on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Hutchins, 42, was hit and killed by a single “live round” fired from Baldwin’s gun while he was rehearsing in front of a camera. Oxide Writer and director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident.

Baldwin and his lawyers have repeatedly insisted that the shooting was accidental and that live ammunition should never have been brought onto the set. Prosecutors nonetheless said Baldwin was reckless and broke “cardinal rules of firearm safety.”

Baldwin, who has pleaded not guilty, is the star and co-producer of the western drama. OxideHe could face up to 18 months in prison if convicted of manslaughter.

“When someone plays pretend with a real gun in a real-life workplace, and while playing pretend with that gun, violates the cardinal rules of firearm safety, people’s lives are in danger and someone could die,” prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson told the 16-member jury.

Johnson called the case “simple” and “direct.”

The courtroom was packed with spectators and members of the media, and Baldwin’s wife, Hilaria, his brother Stephen and his older sister Elizabeth Keuchler were also seated in the gallery.

When it came time for the defense to give its opening arguments, attorney Alex Spiro argued that a gun must be secured before it reaches the hands of an actor on a movie or television set.

Baldwin’s attorneys will try to convince jurors that blame for Hutchins’ death lies elsewhere, namely the person who brought the live ammunition to the production and the person who gave Baldwin the loaded gun.

“The actor’s job is to act, to rehearse, to choreograph his moves, to memorize his lines,” Spiro said. “Alec Baldwin didn’t commit any crime; he was an actor acting.”

“No one saw him intentionally pull the trigger.”

Spiro argued that even if Baldwin had pulled the trigger, he still should not be convicted of murder.

“On a movie set, you’re allowed to pull the trigger,” Spiro said. “That doesn’t make it murder.”

He said other people on set — namely the film’s now-convicted gunsmith and first assistant director — are responsible for ensuring the safety of the guns.

Prosecutors disagree. They say Baldwin was negligent and failed to perform a full safety check on the Colt .45, and left his finger on the hammer and trigger while pointing the gun at people behind the camera.

Baldwin has said the firearm malfunctioned and that he did not pull the trigger. He has also claimed that he did not know the gun contained live ammunition.

Witness testimony began Wednesday, and first to take the stand was Police Officer Nicholas LeFleur. He responded to the initial emergency call and was the first officer to arrive on the scene.

The jury was shown LeFleur’s body camera footage of the incident, which showed first responders rushing to treat Hutchins and Souza after the shooting.

Souza, who was shot in the shoulder, is heard screaming in pain.

Hutchins was shot in the lower right arm and the bullet pierced her right lung before also lacerating her spinal cord. In body camera footage, she lies on the ground surrounded by paramedics. She died later that day, though Souza would survive.

Later in the video, LeFleur can be seen telling Baldwin not to talk to the other potential witnesses, but Baldwin does so repeatedly.

The trial’s second witness, former sheriff’s lieutenant Tim Benavidez, said he picked up the revolver after the shooting. He acknowledged he was careful with the Colt .45 for safety reasons, but that he did not wear gloves or take meticulous forensic precautions as he might have done in a homicide investigation.

Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in January. He had been charged with the same crime a year earlier, but the charge was dismissed as prosecutors continued to examine the evidence.

In March, Oxide Gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Prosecutors said at an earlier trial that Gutierrez-Reed unwittingly brought live ammunition. Oxide The rancher settled in and claimed the bullets remained lit for at least 12 days until the fatal shooting.

Oxide’Deputy Chief Prosecutor Dave Halls pleaded guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon in exchange for his testimony.

Gutierrez-Reed told the court he verified that the gun fired by Baldwin was loaded with imitation ammunition before passing it to Halls, who gave it to the actor.

— with files from The Associated Press

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