The highly anticipated trial of Alec Baldwin, accused of involuntary manslaughter in the deadly shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie “Rust”, is set to begin on Tuesday in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The courtroom drama promises to be unusual, with the selection of jurors tasked with deciding whether the 66-year-old actor will spend up to 18 months in prison. Baldwin, accompanied by his wife Hilaria and their youngest child, arrived at the courthouse on Tuesday, amidst an intense media presence.
The jury’s verdict will be shaped by the events of October 2021, when a revolver went off during a rehearsal, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained that the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it at Hutchins, who was behind the camera. Undeterred by the gun’s alleged live round, Baldwin claimed he pulled back the hammer – not the trigger – and it fired.
Prosecutors, on the other hand, argue that Baldwin’s actions demonstrate a “total disregard or indifference for the safety of others” under the involuntary manslaughter law. In a significant victory for the defence, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled that Baldwin’s role as co-producer on “Rust” is not relevant to the trial, a decision that could potentially impact the prosecution’s strategy.
The trial’s unusual circumstances were addressed by Judge Sommer, who emphasized the need for a swift jury selection process, expecting the jury to be empaneled by the afternoon. Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey expressed doubts about the feasibility of this timeline, citing her disagreement with Baldwin’s lawyers. The exchange between the two officials underscored the tension surrounding the trial.
Alec Baldwin (Via Alec Baldwin/Twitter)
As the trial progresses, lawyers will have the opportunity to challenge jurors and dismiss them for conflicts or other reasons. The defence under state law can dismiss up to five jurors without providing a reason, while the prosecution can dismiss three. The jury’s decision will be shaped by the nine days of testimony, during which they will hear evidence and witness statements.
Before the trial began, Judge Sommer ruled in favor of the prosecution, allowing them to present graphic images from Hutchins’ autopsy and police lapel cameras during her treatment. This outcome may strengthen the prosecution’s case, which had hoped to highlight Baldwin’s safety obligations on the set as co-producer to bolster an alternative theory of guilt.
Throughout the trial, the public’s attention will focus on the emotional testimony of witnesses, including Baldwin himself, as they recollect the events of that fateful day. The trial promises to be a tense and dramatic affair, with the outcome hanging precariously in the balance. Will Baldwin’s reputation be scarred by a guilty verdict, or will he emerge exonerated, his actions deemed accidental and unrelated to Hutchins’ tragic death? Only time will tell.
