Actor Alec Baldwin stands during a break in his involuntary manslaughter trial in connection with a fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust,” in District Court in Santa Fe, N.M., Wednesday, July 10, 2024. | Photo credit: Ross D. Franklin
On the first day of his trial for the shooting death of a cinematographer in New Mexico, prosecutors sought to portray Alex Baldwin as a man who violated rules and had little regard for safety.
Special Prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson repeatedly referred to Baldwin “fake” playing with a revolver on the set of the film Warand said it posed a very real threat and resulted in the death of Helena Hutchins, whom he called “a vibrant 42-year-old rising star.”
Ocampo Johnson told jurors in her opening statement Wednesday that Baldwin “requested to be given the biggest gun available” and that during a training session for it, “people filmed him running around shooting this gun.”
The prosecutor said behind-the-scenes video would show Baldwin ignoring basic gun safety.
“You’ll see him use this gun as a pointer to point at people and things,” Ocampo Johnson said. “You’ll see him swing the hammer when he shouldn’t be swinging the hammer, you’ll see him put his finger on the trigger when his finger shouldn’t be on the trigger.”
Special Prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson shows a bullet in an evidence bag during the hearing of actor Alec Baldwin in Santa Fe County District Court on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Santa Fe, N.M. Baldwin faces a single charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a cinematographer. | Photo credit: Pool
Hutchins’ death and the wounding of director Joel Souza nearly three years ago rocked the film industry and led to involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin, which could result in up to 18 months in prison.
66-year-old star sues 30 Rock And the constant host Saturday night Live The case continues Thursday with testimony from a crime scene technician from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department.
At the beginning of testimony from the technician, Marisa Poppel, jurors had a chance to see the revolver and the bullet used in the shooting.
Baldwin’s attorney, Alex Spiro, emphasized in his opening statement that Baldwin did what actors always do. “He should be able to pick up that weapon and use it the way the person he’s playing would,” Spiro told jurors.
That includes pulling the trigger. Baldwin has said the gun fired accidentally, but Spiro said even if he had fired the gun on purpose it would not have been a murder.
“On a movie set, you’re allowed to pull the trigger,” Spiro said.
Spiro called the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy” and said it killed a “wonderful person,” but said responsibility lay with the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who has already been convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and assistant director David Halls, who told Baldwin the gun was “cold.”
“The gun was checked and double-checked by those responsible for making sure it was safe,” Spiro said. “He didn’t tamper with it, he didn’t load it himself. He didn’t leave it unattended.”
The first witness to testify was Nicholas LeFleur, the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the film set at Bonanza Creek Ranch after the shooting, and his lapel camera video gave jurors a glimpse of the chaotic scene: a horrific scene that included an apparently unconscious Hutchins while LeFleur and others tried to revive her.
Later in the video, LeFleur can be seen telling Baldwin not to talk to other potential witnesses, but Baldwin repeatedly does so.
Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey asked him, “Did Mr. Baldwin have any intention to talk about the incident?”
“No, Madame,” Lefleur replied.
Morrissey asked, “Does he appear to be doing that anyway?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Leffler said.
Those seated in the gallery behind Baldwin included his wife Hilaria Baldwin, younger brother Stephen Baldwin and older sister Elizabeth Kuechler — who at times wiped away tears during the proceedings.