SANTA FE, N.M. Alec Baldwin’s trial for the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, with jurors selected to decide whether the actor is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The trial is set to take place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a city that has become an increasingly popular hub of Hollywood production over recent years.
Baldwin, aged 66, faces up to 18 months imprisonment if the jurors unanimously decide he committed the felony when a revolver he was pointing at Hutchins discharged, resulting in her death and director Joel Souza’s injury during a rehearsal for the Western film “Rust” in October 2021 at Bonanza Creek Ranch. Some 18 miles away from the trial venue, Baldwin has claimed that the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins, who was behind the camera. He stated he pulled back the hammer, not the trigger, and it discharged.
Baldwin’s first court appearance occurred on Monday when Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled in a pretrial hearing that Baldwin’s role as a co-producer on “Rust” is irrelevant to the trial. The judge has emphasized that special circumstances of a celebrity trial should not hinder jury selection from being swift, and opening statements are anticipated to commence on Wednesday.
Judge Marlowe Sommer expressed confidence in selecting a jury by the afternoon. Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, however, doubted Baldwin’s legal team would make this possible, stating “It is my guess that with this group of defense attorneys, that’s not gonna happen.” Prior to Monday’s ruling, prosecutors aimed to emphasize Baldwin’s safety obligations on set as co-producer to bolster an alternative theory of guilt beyond his alleged negligent use of a firearm. They sought to link Baldwin’s behavior to “total disregard or indifference for the safety of others” under the involuntary manslaughter law.
Nevertheless, prosecutors managed other victories on Monday. They successfully argued for the exclusion of summary findings from a state workplace safety investigation that placed much blame on the film’s assistant director, shifting fault away from Baldwin. In response, Baldwin attorney Alex Spiro stated, “I’ve never not picked a jury in one day. I can’t imagine that this would be the first time.
Dozens of potential jurors will enter the courtroom on Tuesday morning for questioning. Cameras that will carry the rest of the proceedings will be turned off to protect their privacy. Jurors are expected to receive the case after a nine-day trial. Attorneys will be able to request their dismissal due to conflicts or other causes. The defense under state law can dismiss up to five jurors without providing a reason, and the prosecution three. More challenges will be allowed when four anticipated alternates are chosen.
The judge ruled that graphic images from Hutchins’ autopsy and police lapel cameras during treatment of her injuries could be shown during the trial.