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.
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.”
“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.
