Prosecutors portrayed Alec Baldwin as someone who disregards safety rules during the first day of his New Mexico trial concerning the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Prosecutor’s Arguments
Special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson emphasized Baldwin’s careless behavior with a revolver on the “Rust” film set, leading to Hutchins’ tragic death. Johnson highlighted that Baldwin insisted on using the largest gun available and behaved recklessly during a training session, often filmed running around and shooting the gun. She pointed out that behind-the-scenes footage would demonstrate Baldwin’s blatant violations of basic firearm safety protocols.
“You will see him using this gun as a pointer to point at people, point at things,” Ocampo Johnson stated. “You will see him cock the hammer when he is not supposed to cock the hammer, you will see him put his finger on the trigger when his finger’s not supposed to be on the trigger.”
Impact on the Film Industry
The incident that occurred nearly three years ago shocked the film industry, leading to Baldwin facing a felony involuntary manslaughter charge, which could result in up to 18 months in prison. The trial’s proceedings continued with testimony from a crime scene technician from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department, allowing jurors to examine the revolver and the spent round from the shooting.
Defense’s Stance
Baldwin’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, argued that Baldwin acted as any actor would on a movie set, following the directions of the character he was portraying. Spiro maintained that Baldwin did not willfully fire the gun, and even if he had, it would not constitute manslaughter. He emphasized that Baldwin relied on the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, and assistant director David Halls, both of whom assured him the gun was safe.
First Witness Testimony
The trial’s first witness, Nicholas LeFleur, the initial law enforcement officer to arrive at the movie set post-shooting, provided crucial insights through his lapel camera footage. The video depicted the chaotic aftermath and the efforts to revive Hutchins. It also showed Baldwin being advised not to discuss the incident with others, an instruction he repeatedly ignored.
Emotional Moments
Among those in the gallery were Baldwin’s wife, Hilaria Baldwin, his younger brother Stephen Baldwin, and his older sister Elizabeth Keuchler, who was seen wiping away tears during the proceedings.
The trial, which continues to unfold, captures the attention of many, highlighting the devastating impact of the incident on everyone involved and raising critical questions about safety practices on film sets.