Hollywood star Alec Baldwin has arrived in a Santa Fe courthouse where he will stand trial in the deadly shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust.
It’s been almost three years since a rehearsal of a shooting scene in the western film ended tragically, when a prop gun Baldwin was holding went off, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin, 66, has insisted that he didn’t pull the trigger on the firearm and didn’t know it contained a live round, claiming that it fired accidentally.
He is charged with a single felony count of involuntary manslaughter over the October 2021 incident. He faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
On Monday, Baldwin appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing where the judge ruled Baldwin’s role as a co-producer on the movie is not relevant to the case.
Jury selection is now underway in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with opening statements expected to begin on Wednesday.
Baldwin’s high-profile trial comes after the movie’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in April and sentenced to the maximum 18 months in prison.
Key points
- Jury selection begins today in Alec Baldwin’s trial
- What is Alec Baldwin charged with?
- Who’s who in the Alec Baldwin case
- What happened to Halyna Hutchins?
What to know about the prison sentence for a movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed
18:15
Andrea Cavallier
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, a movie weapons armorer, received the maximum sentence of 18 months in jail for involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on a Western movie set.
A New Mexico judge found that Gutierrez-Reed’s recklessness amounted to a serious violent offense, while noting few indications of genuine remorse from the defendant since her conviction in March.
Prosecutors blame Gutierrez-Reed for unwittingly bringing live ammunition onto the set of “Rust,” where it was expressly prohibited, and for failing to follow basic gun-safety protocols .
Attention is now on Baldwin’s trial on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the October 2021 death of Halyna Hutchins at a movie ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe.
Watch live: Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ trial is underway
17:45
Andrea Cavallier
Watch live as Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin goes on trial today over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust.
A look inside of Alec Baldwin’s new upcoming reality series: ‘The Baldwins’
17:20
Andrea Cavallier
Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria Baldwin will be giving fans a glimpse into their chaotic home in an upcoming reality series, The Baldwins.
On Tuesday, June 4, the 66-year-old 30 Rock actor and his yoga instructor wife announced their upcoming show for TLC in an Instagram video. In the clip, Alec and Hilaria began by introducing themselves and cracking a joke about their large brood of seven children.
While many fans were excited about the upcoming reality show, some Instagram users couldn’t help but wonder where Hilaria’s former Spanish accent had gone.
“Where did her accent go? And now she has like a little girl voice. I’m so confused,” one person asked, pointing out Hilaria’s seemingly American accent in the clip.
“If she pretends to be Hispanic, I’m boycotting,” another person wrote, while someone else said: “You mean Hillary.... Right?”
Read more:
How long is the Alec Baldwin trial expected to last?
15:20
Andrea Cavallier
The trial at the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico — about 20 miles northeast of the movie set and the shooting — is projected to last nine days, and Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer insists that she’ll keep the lawyers in line and on schedule.
Jury selection begins Tuesday, with opening statements expected Wednesday, and the projected end the following Friday.
Once the jurors get the case, however, they can deliberate as long as needed.
Alec Baldwin arrives at courthouse
15:17
Andrea Cavallier
The Hollywood star has arrived at the courthouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Jury selection in his trial is expected to begin today.
Long line of spectators and media at courthouse
15:10
Andrea Cavallier
As Alec Baldwin heads to trial, here’s who’s who in the case
14:40
Andrea Cavallier
A dozen people were inside a movie set church the day Alec Baldwin shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza during a rehearsal for the Western film Rust.
Some of those who were inside the church that fateful day in 2021 are expected to testify.
Here’s a look at the key players in the criminal trial of an actor who has been a TV and movie mainstay for decades:
What happened to Halyna Hutchins?
13:40
Rachel Sharp
On the day of the shooting, Baldwin was rehearsing a scene in which he was required to draw his weapon and aim it toward the camera.
Ms Gutierrez-Reed had prepared a trio of guns for use in the scene, including two guns that could not fire rounds, and a fully-operational replica of a Colt 45 revolver.
The armourer reportedly checked the weapons before placing them on a cart and making them available to Baldwin, according to court documents.
While discussing the scene, Baldwin was showing Hutchins, camera operator Reid Russell, and the film’s director, Joel Souza, how he intended to draw the firearm.
“So, I guess I’m gonna take this out, pull it, and go, ‘Bang!’” Baldwin reportedly said, according to a report by the LA Times.
At some point during his draw and explanation, the revolver fired. The bullet struck Hutchins in the chest, exited her body, and then hit Mr Souza, who was behind her.
First responders transported Hutchins to a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, close to where the film was being shot. She was pronounced dead later that same day. Mr Souza survived.
It was later discovered that a live round had been loaded into the pistol Baldwin used on set that day.
WATCH: Moment Alec Baldwin hears of Halyna Hutchins' death in police interview after Rust shooting
13:21
Rachel Sharp
Meet the judge presiding over Hollywood star’s case
12:47
Rachel Sharp
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer is presiding over the Hollywood star’s high-profile case.
Her decades-long career has included work as a law clerk, a defense attorney and a hearing officer who handled thousands of cases involving domestic violence and family matters.
In 2010, Marlowe Sommer was appointed to the First Judicial District Court by then-New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
When sentencing Gutierrez-Reed in April, the judge told the defendant that anything less than the maximum sentence would not be appropriate, citing what she called recklessness.
If Gutierrez-Reed’s trial is any indication, Marlowe Sommer will keep the attorneys on track and on schedule in what will be a high-profile proceeding.
Rust armorer convicted of manslaughter in April
12:20
Rachel Sharp
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the stepdaughter of renowned sharpshooter and weapons consultant Thell Reed, Gutierrez-Reed was 24 at the time of the deadly rehearsal.
Rust was her second assignment as an armorer in a feature film. Her attorneys argued that she was scapegoated, pointing to safety concerns that went beyond their client.
She was sentenced to 18 months in prison on an involuntary manslaughter conviction, which she’s appealing.
At sentencing, Gutierrez-Reed said she had tried to do her best on the set despite not having “proper time, resources and staffing.”
WATCH: Police bodycam shows Alec Baldwin moments after Rust shooting
11:45
Rachel Sharp
Alec Baldwin in New Mexico court one day before trial over deadly Rust set shooting is ready to begin
11:25
Rachel Sharp
Alec Baldwin sat stoney-faced in court on Monday as he prepares to face trial over the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Rust movie.
The Hollywood star is charged with a single felony count of involuntary manslaughter over the incident in New Mexico in October 2021, which left the young cinematographer dead.
Jury selection in the case is expected to begin on Tuesday, though Baldwin was present for a pretrial hearing on Monday with his lead attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro.
He appeared to listen intently to proceedings, taking occasional notes on a yellow legal pad and handing written messages to his attorney. Baldwin wore glasses and close-cropped hair.
Read the full story here:
What is Alec Baldwin charged with?
11:04
Rachel Sharp
Alec Baldwin is charged with a single felony count of involuntary manslaughter over the October 2021 shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin has pleaded not guilty and claims the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins, who was behind the camera.
Unaware the gun contained a live round, Baldwin said he pulled back the hammer — not the trigger — and it fired.
He faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
Jury selection begins today in Alec Baldwin’s trial
11:02
Rachel Sharp
Hollywood star Alec Baldwin will go on trial today over the deadly shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust.
Jury selection will now get under way in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Tuesday morning.
Opening statements are then expected to take place on Wednesday.
Welcome to The Independent’s live blog
11:01
Rachel Sharp
Follow along for live updates as Hollywood star Alec Baldwin goes on trial today over the deadly shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Rust movie
