Alec Baldwin heads to trial in ‘Rust’ case

Jul 8

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

Nearly three years after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film “Rust,” producer and star Alec Baldwin is now facing trial. Baldwin has been charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, and if convicted, he could receive up to 18 months in prison.

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Baldwin claimed to be holding the gun when a live bullet discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin previously stated that he did not intentionally pull the trigger and that the gun “went off.”

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“I’m the person who had the gun in the scene,” Baldwin told a police officer just moments after the shooting.

Jury selection begins Tuesday, July 9. Prosecutors will need to convince the 12-member jury that Baldwin was negligent in handling the firearm and acted with disregard for the safety of those around him. Court documents revealed that prosecutors have video footage showing Baldwin not following safety rules provided by Souza regarding gun handling on set.

Baldwin’s defense team aims to prove that it is not the actors’ responsibility to ensure that a live round is not in the gun and that live ammunition is banned from movie sets.

Witnesses previously stated that the crew was informed the gun was “cold,” meaning it did not contain a bullet and was only to be used as a prop.

Earlier this year, a jury convicted the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, of felony involuntary manslaughter, resulting in a maximum 18-month prison sentence.

As of now, it remains unclear whether Baldwin will take the stand in his defense. He is currently in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is expected to appear in the courtroom.

The trial is anticipated to last nine days.

Tags: Alec Baldwin, Rust shooting, shooting

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

NEARLY THREE YEARS AFTER THE FATAL SHOOTING OF CINEMATOGRAPHER HALYNA HUTCHINS ON THE SET OF WESTERN FILM “RUST” — PRODUCER AND STAR OF THE MOVIE — ALEC BALDWIN – IS HEADED TO TRIAL.

BALDWIN IS CHARGED WITH FELONY INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER – AND IF CONVICTED – COULD GET UP TO 18 MONTHS IN PRISON.

BALDWIN CLAIMED TO BE HOLDING THE GUN —WHEN A LIVE BULLET DISCHARGED– KILLING HUTCHINS AND WOUNDING DIRECTOR JOEL SOUZA.

BALDWIN HAS PREVIOUSLY CLAIMED HE DID NOT PULL THE TRIGGER AND THE GUN “WENT OFF”.

[BODY CAMERA]

OFFICER: “If it can wait sir?”

ALEC BALDWIN: “I’m the person who had the gun in the scene.”

OFFICER: “Yes, we’re going to talk to everybody in a sec. We’re getting these guys treated. We’re securing the scene and then we’ll get with you guys in a sec.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

JURY SELECTION BEGINS TUESDAY.

PROSECUTORS WILL HAVE TO CONVINCE THE 12-MEMBER JURY THAT BALDWIN WAS NEGLIGENT IN USING THE FIREARM AND THAT HE ACTED WITH DISREGARD IN THE SAFETY OF THOSE AROUND HIM.

IN COURT DOCUMENTS, PROSECUTORS ARGUE THEY HAVE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF BALDWIN NOT FOLLOWING SAFETY RULES GIVEN BY DIRECTOR SOUZA — IN HANDLING THE GUN ON SET.

BALDWIN’S DEFENSE TEAM WILL TRY TO PROVE THAT IT’S NOT THE ACTORS’ JOB TO MAKE SURE A LIVE ROUND IS NOT IN THE GUN – AND THAT LIVE AMMUNITION IS BANNED FROM MOVIE SETS.

WITNESSES HAD ALSO PREVIOUSLY SAID THE CREW WAS TOLD THE GUN WAS “COLD” – MEANING IT DID NOT CONTAIN A BULLET AND WAS ONLY TO BE USED AS A PROP.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, A JURY CONVICTED THE FILM’S ARMORER – HANNAH GUTIERREZ-REED – OF FELONY INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND SHE WAS SENTENCED TO THE MAXIMUM – 18 MONTHS IN PRISON.

AT THIS TIME, IT’S UNCLEAR IF BALDWIN WILL TAKE THE STAND IN HIS DEFENSE. HE IS IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO AND HE’S EXPECTED IN THE COURTROOM.

THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST NINE DAYS.

FOR SAN, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR… FOR MORE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS –

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