Nineteen months after charges were first filed against actor Alec Baldwin over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film 'Rust', the trial is finally beginning in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin is facing a criminal manslaughter trial for his involvement in the incident, which garnered significant attention in the media [d27b3e40].
The trial is expected to be closely watched and will feature key individuals involved in the case. Halyna Hutchins, the Ukrainian director of photography who was tragically shot and killed, will be a central figure in the trial. Alec Baldwin, who is facing trial for criminal manslaughter, will also play a key role. Hannah Gutierrez, the weapons handler who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for loading the live round that killed Hutchins, will be another important figure in the trial. Dave Halls, the first assistant director who took a plea deal from prosecutors, will also be involved. Kari Morrissey and Erlinda Johnson, the lead special prosecutors, will play a crucial role in presenting the case against Baldwin. Bryce Ziegler, the FBI firearms specialist who performed a test on Baldwin's gun, and Lucien Haag, an independent firearms expert who examined Baldwin's gun, will provide their expertise in the trial. Bryan Carpenter, the state's movie set firearms safety expert, will also be called upon. Baldwin's defense team will attempt to challenge the findings of the firearms specialists and prosecutors in order to sow doubt among the jury [d27b3e40].
The trial took a dramatic turn as Baldwin was accused of breaking gun rules during the shooting. The prosecution argued that Baldwin broke safety rules by pointing a gun at Hutchins and pulling the trigger. Baldwin's lawyer countered by claiming that he was failed by the film's safety experts, who have already been convicted in the case. The trial is unprecedented in holding an actor criminally responsible for a gun death during filming. Baldwin's wife and brother were present in the courtroom. The defense argued that even if Baldwin pulled the trigger, it was not a crime and that it was the responsibility of the safety experts to ensure the gun was safe. The trial comes after charges were dropped and then reinstated based on evidence that the gun was modified to fire more easily. The armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who has already been convicted of involuntary manslaughter, is expected to testify in the trial. Baldwin's defense team argues that even if he pulled the trigger, he is still not guilty. The trial heard opening statements with prosecutors claiming that Baldwin skipped safety checks and handled the gun recklessly. The defense argued that the cardinal rules of firearm safety do not apply on a movie set. The trial also heard testimony from a crime scene technician regarding the search for live ammunition. The trial will continue with Gutierrez-Reed's testimony [7103c3a8].
In a surprising turn of events, Alec Baldwin's trial in New Mexico has come to an end as Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against him. Baldwin's lawyers alleged that police and prosecutors hid evidence of the source of the live round that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie 'Rust' in 2021. The defense argued that the Santa Fe sheriff's office failed to list live rounds as evidence in the 'Rust' investigation file and did not disclose their existence to the defense. The rounds were handed into the sheriff's office by a friend of the stepfather of the movie's armorer. The defense also claimed that the rounds were evidence that the bullet came from the movie's prop supplier, Seth Kenney, who denies supplying live ammunition. Baldwin's lawyers argued that he was failed by the armorer and others responsible for safety on the set, and that law enforcement agents were more interested in prosecuting him than finding the source of the live round. Baldwin left the courthouse without speaking to reporters [247d1cad].
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