Actor Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of 'Rust' began with jury selection on July 9, 2024. The trial is expected to last eight days and will determine whether Baldwin is guilty for the discharge of a prop gun that killed Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza in October 2021.
Baldwin arrived at the Santa Fe, New Mexico, courthouse with his wife and one of their youngest children. The trial could result in up to 18 months in prison if Baldwin is found guilty (AP).
The selection of jurors for the high-profile trial was an unusual experience for those chosen as they are not accustomed to such major cases in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which has increasingly become a hub of Hollywood production. The city's modern brown-stucco courthouse in downtown Santa Fe is where the trial will take place (Washington Post).
Baldwin's role as a producer on 'Rust' was ruled irrelevant to the trial by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, allowing the defense to question director Joel Souza about his civil lawsuit against Baldwin and his motives during the proceedings (CNN).
The jury selection process began with potential jurors being asked about their knowledge of the case, their opinions on Baldwin and Hutchins, and whether they could remain impartial throughout the trial. The defense and prosecution teams will use this information to strike jurors who may not be suitable for the case (Rferl).
The trial is significant as it marks Hollywood's first on-set shooting fatality in three decades, momentarily sparking calls to end the widespread use of real firearms on movie sets. The incident occurred when Baldwin was directed to point a gun at Hutchins as she set up a camera shot inside a movie-set church about 30 kilometers southwest of Santa Fe (Rferl).
Baldwin could testify in his defense, but legal experts warn it could be risky due to his history of emotional outbursts. The trial is expected to last eight days and run until July 19, 2024 (Washington Post).
