process in Santa Fe - The accusation holds Alec Baldwin accountable
In the trial against Alec Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter of a cinematographer, the defense portrays the incident as a tragedy, for which Baldwin bears no responsibility. "Alec Baldwin did not commit a crime. He was an actor, playing his role," attorney Alex Spiro stated in court in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
With a serious look and visible tension, Baldwin follows the opening statement of his attorney. The trial revolves around the question of whether the 66-year-old actor handled the fatal shot to a cinematographer on the set of the Western "Rust" in 2021 recklessly and should be incarcerated as a result.
The indictment stems from a shooting incident on the set of "Rust." On October 21, 2021, the main actor Baldwin pulled the trigger of a revolver, as directed by the director. However, instead of harmless blank cartridges, live ammunition discharged. A bullet struck cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and then hit director Joel Souza in the shoulder. The mother of a then nine-year-old son died shortly thereafter, and Souza sustained lighter injuries.
Alec Baldwin: Responsibility for Set Employees
"There will be no witness or evidence in this trial that Alec knew or could have known that the weapon was loaded with a live round," defense attorney Spiro emphasized. "Actors do not check the weapons; safety is the responsibility of specialized personnel." However, the responsibility for ensuring that weapons at film shoots are safe lies with weapon masters and other crew members.
No actor has ever removed live ammunition from a prop gun, Spiro added. Baldwin owes no debt to himself but merely did his job. Twelve jurors are to decide the matter in the trial scheduled for eight hearing days. Baldwin pleaded not guilty. He faces up to 18 months in prison.
Lila Blouse and Serious Expression
Baldwin was seen on TV images from the courtroom with a serious expression. He wore a dark suit, tie, and a lilac-colored blouse and occasionally put on his glasses to read documents. According to attending journalists, his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, and one of his brothers, actor Stephen Baldwin, were also present.
Prosecutor Erlinda Johnson presented a different version to the jury regarding Baldwin's responsibility: "The evidence will show that the one who played with a real weapon and violated the safety rules was the defendant, Alexander Baldwin." He is therefore guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Johnson also highlighted the role of already convicted armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in her opening statement. Many crew members were aware that Gutierrez-Reed had little experience as an armorer. Nevertheless, Baldwin "never, when he had this weapon in his hand, performed a safety check."
The actor had also mishandled the weapon in numerous other instances. Baldwin showed the weapon to people. "You will see that he placed his finger on the trigger, although his finger should not have been on the trigger," Johnson continued to the jury.
"You Can Pull the Trigger on a Film Set"
Lawyer Spiro countered: "You can pull the trigger on a film set." If Baldwin did this - even if he cannot remember it - it does not make him guilty. His client could not have known that the weapon was loaded with a live bullet, which should not be present on sets at all. The revolver was handed over to the star from films like "The Hunt for Red October" and "Blue Jasmine" for testing.
After the opening statements, two policemen and a crime scene technician were called as the first witnesses in the case on a Wednesday. Throughout the interrogations, Baldwin and the other defendants were repeatedly shown video clips that showed the chaos and confusion following the fatal shooting. In a particularly intense recording, people were seen struggling around Hutchins' lifeless body on the ground.
Previous Conviction against the Armorer
Judge Mary Marlowe has set the trial to last until mid-July. Cameras are allowed in the courtroom – the proceedings will be made publicly accessible via livestream. Testifying are expected to be filmmakers, investigators, and ballistics experts. It is still unknown whether Baldwin himself will testify.
In a separate trial, the armorer Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for weapon safety on the "Rust" set, was already 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.
- The incident involving the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins occurred on the set of the Western "Rust" in New Mexico, specifically in Santa Fe.
- During the trial, defense attorney Alex Spiro highlighted that it was the responsibility of weapon masters and other crew members, not actors like Alec Baldwin, to ensure that weapons at film shoots are safe.
- After the incident, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer responsible for weapon safety on the "Rust" set, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a separate trial for loading the gun with live ammunition.
