Nearly three years after the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the film “Rust,” Alec Baldwin’s trial over her death is set to begin. The actor has made his first court appearance in Santa Fe during pre-trial motions, marking a significant moment in this high-profile case.
Alec Baldwin faces a charge of felony involuntary manslaughter. If convicted by a unanimous jury, he could face 18 months in prison. The incident occurred on October 21, 2021, when Baldwin, the star and co-producer of the Western film, was rehearsing a scene in a small church on the movie set at Bonanza Creek Ranch. During the rehearsal, Baldwin pointed a revolver at Hutchins, and the gun discharged, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the hammer but did not pull the trigger, yet the gun fired.
The trial will focus on two major themes: the chaotic atmosphere on the movie set and the specifics of the Italian-made classic revolver that Baldwin used. Baldwin’s defense team scored a significant victory when a judge ruled that his role as a co-producer of the film is not relevant to the trial, focusing solely on his status as the lead actor. This ruling undermines the prosecution’s argument that Baldwin’s producer role contributed to the circumstances leading to the shooting.
The source of the live rounds that killed Hutchins has never been officially determined. In a previous trial, “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was alleged to be responsible for the live rounds. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to the same 18 months in prison that Baldwin now faces.
Jurors in Baldwin’s trial will have to decide based on two alternative standards for proving the charge. One standard is the negligent use of a firearm, while the other requires proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Baldwin acted with total disregard or indifference for the safety of others. Despite the complexities, the jury will ultimately deliver a single verdict: guilty or not guilty.
The trial is expected to last nine days at the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico, located about 20 miles northeast of the movie set. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer has emphasized that she will keep the proceedings on schedule. Jury selection has already taken place, with 12 jurors and four alternates chosen from a pool of about 70 people. Opening statements are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, with the trial projected to conclude the following Friday. However, the jury can deliberate for as long as needed once they receive the case.
Alec Baldwin, 66, has been a prominent figure in Hollywood for nearly 35 years. He gained fame in the late 1980s and early ’90s with films like “Beetlejuice” and “The Hunt for Red October.” He later earned an Oscar nomination for his role in “The Cooler” and won multiple Emmys for his performances in “30 Rock” and “Saturday Night Live.” Baldwin is also known for his outspoken public persona and occasional outbursts of anger, which have led to public embarrassment and minor legal issues in the past.
Baldwin’s defense team comprises elite New York-based attorneys, many of whom are Harvard Law graduates from the firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. Leading the defense is Alex Spiro, a sought-after attorney who has represented high-profile clients like Elon Musk and Megan Thee Stallion. The defense will argue that it is not an actor’s responsibility to ensure that real rounds are not in their gun, a position supported by Baldwin’s union, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Baldwin has stated in interviews that he never pulled the revolver’s trigger. His lawyers will also challenge the gun evidence, citing serious damage done to the revolver during an FBI test, which they claim amounted to the destruction of evidence.
The prosecution team, led by Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, appointed Kari Morrissey as a special prosecutor in early 2023. Morrissey initially had the indictment against Baldwin dismissed but revived it in January of this year after further examination of the evidence. Morrissey, a University of New Mexico law school graduate, has practiced law in Albuquerque for over 20 years. New Mexico criminal defense attorney Erlinda Johnson joined Morrissey’s team in April.
The trial is expected to feature testimony from key witnesses, including crew members who were inside the small church building during the shooting. Director Joel Souza, who was also wounded by the bullet, and assistant director David Halls, who pleaded no contest to negligent handling of a firearm, are among those expected to testify. Zac Sneesby, a crew member who was holding a boom microphone during the rehearsal, is considered a crucial witness as he claims to have seen Baldwin pull the trigger.
Firearms experts who testified at Gutierrez-Reed’s trial will return to discuss Baldwin’s handling of the revolver and whether the gun was functioning properly. The prosecution may also call Gutierrez-Reed to the stand, although an immunity deal for her was rejected by the judge. Additionally, the jury will hear from experts about the revolver’s condition and whether Hutchins received proper medical treatment after the shooting.
The trial will take place in Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital, known for its historic Southwestern beauty and vibrant arts scene. The proceedings are expected to draw significant media attention, with national outlets competing for seats in the courtroom and an overflow room. The trial will be streamed and broadcast by several outlets, including Court TV, allowing the public to follow the case closely.
Halyna Hutchins, who was 42 at the time of her death, was a rising cinematographer and a mother of a young son. She grew up on a remote Soviet military base and worked on documentary films in Eastern Europe before studying film in Los Angeles and embarking on a promising career in the movie industry.
Source: AP News, CBS
