The highly anticipated trial of Alec Baldwin, accused of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, has finally begun. In his opening statement, Baldwin’s defense attorney, Alex Spiro, described the incident as an “unspeakable tragedy” and emphasized that the actor committed no crime. Spiro argued that Baldwin was simply an actor, doing what actors do on set, and that the real culprit was the filmmaker’s disregard for safety protocols.
Spiro claimed that the cardinal rules of firearm safety do not apply on a movie set, and that safety measures were overlooked, leading to the tragic accident. He pointed out that the production’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was responsible for ensuring the gun’s safety, and that Baldwin did not tamper with the weapon.Spiro emphasized that Baldwin was told the gun was “cold” and that he did not pull the trigger, instead relying on instinctive action.
In contrast, special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson presented a different narrative, emphasizing that Baldwin’s actions were reckless and negligent. She stated that before the shooting, Baldwin had declined multiple opportunities for standard safety checks and had handled the revolver recklessly. Johnson claimed that Baldwin had “done his own thing” and had cocked the hammer, pointed the gun at Hutchins, and fired, sending a live bullet into her body.
The prosecution presented evidence, including video footage from the body camera of Nicholas LeFleur, the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the scene. The video showed the frantic efforts to save Hutchins, who looked unconscious as several people attended to her. Baldwin watched the video somberly, clearly affected by the events.
Alec Baldwin (Via Alec Baldwin/Twitter)
Throughout the opening statements, Baldwin remained seated, training his eyes downward on a notepad, away from the jury. His wife, Hilaria Baldwin, and other family members were visibly emotional in the courtroom. The trial is expected to go into the mechanics of the weapon and whether it could have fired without a trigger pull, with prosecutors insisting it was impossible.
As the proceedings continue, the jury’s attention will be focused on the events leading up to the tragedy, including claims of poor communication, negligence, and a culture of complacency on set. The trial’s outcome will have significant implications for Baldwin’s career and reputation, as well as the film industry as a whole.
