Prosecutors aimed to depict Alec Baldwin as someone who disregards rules and lacks concern for safety on the opening day of his New Mexico trial for the shooting of a cinematographer. Special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson emphasized that Baldwin’s behavior on the set of the film “Rust” was reckless and ultimately led to the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins, a “vibrant 42-year-old rising star.”
During her opening statement on Wednesday, Ocampo Johnson highlighted that Baldwin had requested the largest gun available for a training session, and video footage would show him “playing make-believe” while carelessly handling the weapon. “You will see him using this gun as a pointer to point at people, point at things,” Ocampo Johnson asserted. “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.”
In a poignant moment during the trial, Ocampo Johnson presented a bullet in an evidence bag, a grim reminder of the events that led to Hutchins’ death and the wounding of director Joel Souza nearly three years ago. These events have sent shockwaves through the film industry and resulted in Baldwin facing a felony involuntary manslaughter charge, which could lead to up to 18 months in prison. The trial of Baldwin, known for his roles in “30 Rock” and as a frequent host of “Saturday Night Live,” continues with testimony from a crime scene technician with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department.
Marissa Poppell, the crime scene technician, provided jurors with a closer look at the revolver and the spent round from the shooting incident. This evidence is crucial in understanding the sequence of events that led to the tragic accident. Baldwin’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, sought to counter the prosecution’s narrative by arguing that Baldwin’s actions were consistent with what actors typically do on film sets. “He must be able to take that weapon and use it in the way that the person he’s playing would,” Spiro explained to the jurors. According to Spiro, this includes pulling the trigger, an act that Baldwin claims was accidental.
Spiro maintained that even if Baldwin had intentionally fired the gun, it would still not amount to manslaughter. “On a movie set, you’re allowed to pull that trigger,” he stated. He characterized the shooting as an “unspeakable tragedy,” stressing that the real responsibility lay with the film’s armor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, and assistant director David Halls, who had assured Baldwin that the gun was “cold.
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“It had been checked and double-checked by those responsible for ensuring the gun was safe,” Spiro insisted. “He did not tamper with it, he did not load it himself. He did not leave it unattended.” This defense aims to shift the focus away from Baldwin and onto the crew members responsible for the weapon’s safety.
The prosecution’s case was bolstered by the testimony of Nicholas LeFleur, the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the movie set at Bonanza Creek Ranch after the shooting. His lapel camera video provided jurors with a glimpse of the chaotic aftermath, showing efforts to revive an unconscious Hutchins. In the footage, LeFleur can be seen instructing Baldwin not to speak to other potential witnesses, but Baldwin appears to disregard this directive.
“Was Mr. Baldwin supposed to be talking about the incident?” special prosecutor Kari Morrissey asked LeFleur. “No ma’am,” he replied. “Does he appear to be doing it anyway?” Morrissey inquired further. “Yes, ma’am,” LeFleur confirmed, highlighting Baldwin’s apparent defiance in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
As the trial progresses, it is evident that Baldwin’s conduct both on and off the set will be scrutinized. Among those observing the proceedings were Baldwin’s family members, including his wife Hilaria Baldwin, younger brother Stephen Baldwin, and older sister Elizabeth Keuchler, who was seen wiping away tears at times during the trial.
The court proceedings continue to captivate attention as they unravel the tragic events that led to the loss of a promising life and the implications it holds for Alec Baldwin and the broader film industry.
