Trial after death on movie set - Jury selected in criminal trial against Alec Baldwin
In the trial against Alec Baldwin (66) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a twelve-person jury and four alternate jurors have been found. The proceedings can now continue with opening statements in the court. On Tuesday (local time), eleven women and five men were selected. Baldwin, who is accused of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting on the set of the Western "Rust," attended the jury selection. His wife, Hilaria Baldwin (40), and one of his brothers, actor Stephen Baldwin (58), were also present in the courtroom, according to reports from attending journalists and journalists.
The jurors are all citizens of New Mexico, but their identities remain confidential according to strict court rules. They were selected from a pool of over 70 people. Representatives of the prosecution and defense asked questions about their gun ownership and whether they themselves owned a gun. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer wanted to know how many of the candidates were familiar with the case. Only two people admitted to not having heard anything about it before.
The fatal incident on the Western set
The prosecution is based on a shooting incident on the set of the Western "Rust." On October 21, 2021, the main actor Baldwin fired a revolver during rehearsals. Instead of blank cartridges, live ammunition discharged. The bullet pierced cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (42) and then hit director Joel Souza in the shoulder. Hutchins, mother of a then nine-year-old son, died shortly thereafter, while Souza sustained lighter injuries.
Baldwin denies the allegations
In January, Baldwin pleaded not guilty in the indictment. In previous interviews, the actor and producer had maintained that he had not pulled the trigger of the gun. His attorneys suggest that the gun may have been damaged and the shot may have gone off accidentally. The star of films such as "The Hunt for Red October" and "Blue Jasmine" could not have known that there was live ammunition in the gun, his lawyers argue. However, the prosecution accuses Baldwin of not testing the weapon, disregarding safety regulations, and endangering others.
Previous conviction against the armorer
The trial has been scheduled to last nearly two weeks. Cameras have been allowed in the courtroom - the proceedings will be made accessible to the public via livestream. Witnesses expected to testify include film industry professionals, investigators, and firearms experts. It is currently unknown whether Baldwin himself will testify. At the end, the twelve jurors must render a verdict. If found guilty, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
In a separate trial, armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for weapons safety on the set of "Rust," was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. She had loaded the gun with live ammunition. In April, she was sentenced to the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.
- Despite the ongoing trial against Alec Baldwin in Santa Fe, New Mexico, his brother, actor Stephen Baldwin, was present in the courtroom.
- The jury selection process for the trial involved eleven women and five men from the USA, some of whom were asked about their gun ownership.
- The movie set where the fatal shooting occurred was in New Mexico, and the incident involved main actor Alec Baldwin firing a revolver during rehearsals.
- Joel Souza, the director of the movie "Rust," was wounded in the shoulder during the incident, while cinematographer Halyna Hutchins tragically lost her life.
- As the wife of Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin also attended the jury selection for the proceedings related to her husband's involuntary manslaughter charges.
- Despite the tragic events on the movie set, people in Hollywood continue to follow the criminal proceedings against Baldwin closely, along with other events in the entertainment industry.
- In court, Mary Marlowe Sommer, the judge presiding over the proceedings, inquired about the candidates' familiarity with the case, ensuring that only unbiased jurors would decide the fate of Baldwin.
- If found guilty, Baldwin could face up to 18 months in prison, a significant consequence for the well-known Hollywood personality in connection with the death on the "Rust" movie set.
