Alec Baldwin Faces Trial Over Cinematographer’s Death: Key Details to Know
Alec Baldwin Faces Trial Over Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ Death: Essential Details
What Charge Does Alec Baldwin Face? Nearly three years after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed on the New Mexico set of the film “Rust,” Alec Baldwin is going on trial over her death. The actor is charged with felony involuntary manslaughter. If a jury unanimously convicts him, he could face 18 months in prison.
Incident Overview On October 21, 2021, during a rehearsal in a small church on the movie set at Bonanza Creek Ranch, Baldwin, the star and co-producer of the Western, was pointing a revolver at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has stated that he pulled back the hammer but did not pull the trigger when the gun fired.
Key Themes in the Trial Two major themes will dominate the trial: the chaotic atmosphere of the movie set and the specifics of the Italian-made classic revolver that Baldwin pointed at Hutchins.
Unresolved Questions It has never been officially determined who brought the live rounds that killed Hutchins onto the set. Prosecutors at the previous trial of “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed alleged that she was responsible. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to the same 18 months in prison Baldwin now faces.
Baldwin’s Defense.
Baldwin will be accompanied by an elite legal team primarily consisting of New York-based attorneys from the firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, many of whom are Harvard Law graduates. Among them is Alex Spiro, a 41-year-old defense attorney who has represented high-profile clients such as Elon Musk and Megan Thee Stallion. Spiro, known as one of the most sought-after lawyers in the country, will conduct aggressive cross-examinations of the state’s witnesses.
The defense will argue that it is not the responsibility of an actor to ensure there are no real rounds in a firearm, a stance strongly supported by Baldwin’s union, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
In interviews with ABC News and authorities, Baldwin has maintained that he never pulled the trigger of the revolver.
Baldwin’s lawyers will also challenge the gun evidence, criticizing the severe damage done to the revolver during an FBI test, which they claim destroyed evidence and prevented the defense from examining the weapon.
Firearms experts for the prosecution, who previously testified at the trial of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, will return to the witness stand to discuss Baldwin’s handling of the revolver and its functionality, despite Baldwin’s objections.
Additionally, the prosecution may question witnesses about whether Hutchins received appropriate medical treatment between the time of the shooting and her death at the hospital.
Expected Witnesses at Alec Baldwin’s Trial
Zac Sneesby, a crew member holding a boom microphone during the rehearsal, is set to testify that he saw Baldwin pull the trigger of the revolver. Prosecutors have highlighted Sneesby as potentially the most important witness, according to court filings.
Prosecutors may also call Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, to the stand, though she previously rejected an immunity deal offered by Marlowe Sommer.
Jurors will hear from firearms experts who will testify that the revolver was functioning properly and could not have fired without the trigger being pulled.
Baldwin himself may take the stand in his defense, although his attorneys have not confirmed whether he will do so.
