Testimony begins in trial of Alec Baldwin, accused of fatal shooting on the set of the film “Rust”

On Wednesday, testimony began in the trial against the award-winning actor Alec Baldwinwho is accused of shooting camerawoman Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.” Baldwin has pleaded not guilty in the case.

Nicholas LeFleur, a Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputy who was the first law enforcement officer to arrive at Bonanza Creek Ranch after the shooting, was the first witness to take the stand. Bodycam footage shown in the courtroom showed the desperate efforts to save Hutchins.

According to the Associated Press, Spiro attempted to prove that neither LeFleur nor the trial’s second witness, former sheriff’s Lt. Tim Benavidez, considered the crime scene to be a place where a serious crime had occurred.

On Wednesday, prosecutor Erlinda Johnson delivered the prosecution’s opening statement, telling jurors that a prop gun was “a real gun” and claiming Baldwin asked to be given the largest gun available. Johnson said Baldwin mishandled the gun on set, such as using it as a pointing device.

“The evidence will show that the defendant, Alexander Baldwin, is someone who played with a real gun and violated basic gun safety rules,” Johnson said.

During the opening remarks, Baldwin listened attentively and took notes while his family watched.

“Film set safety regulations dictate that actors such as the defendant may never point a firearm at another person,” Johnson said.

During Johnson’s opening statement, the prosecution played photos from the set, including photos of Hutchins and the church where the shooting occurred behind her, Baldwin in costume, the church surrounded by crime scene tape and emergency responders at work.

Alex Spiro then began his opening argument for the defense, telling the jury that the critical safety issues on set were not Baldwin’s fault and that safety checks should be done before an actor is given a gun.

“It was just a prop, the gun has to be safe before it gets into the actor’s hands,” Spiro said.

During its opening statement, the defense played scenes in which the director asked Baldwin to repeat the scene. According to Spiro, this shows that no one was in danger from the weapon.

“The prop weapon was placed in Mr. Baldwin’s hands and ‘cold weapon’ was announced,” Spiro said.

Jury selection on Tuesday was plagued by delays. Questioning of the 70 potential jurors began several hours later than expected. But by the end of the day, the number of jurors had been reduced to 16, four of whom are alternates. The 11 women and five men will hear the case over the next few weeks and decide whether to convict the 66-year-old actor.

What happened on the set of “Rust”?

On October 21, 2021, at around 2 p.m. local time, a prop gun held by Baldwin went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza during a rehearsal in a small church on the set. Baldwin, the star and co-producer of the western, said he pulled back the Colt .45’s hammer, but did not pull the trigger.

The authorities were called to the set at Bonanza Creek Ranch and Hutchins was taken by helicopter to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where she succumbed to her injuries, according to the sheriff’s office at the time.

Authorities searching the set found live ammunition. The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator determined in 2022 that the Incident was an accident.

What is Alec Baldwin accused of?

Alec Baldwin is charged with manslaughter. If convicted, he faces up to one and a half years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.

He was initially charged in January 2023, but prosecutors dropped those charges three months later. Prosecutors re-charged Baldwin with negligent homicide in January.

Baldwin moved to dismiss the charges, but the judge overseeing the case rejected his request.

Where does the process take place, when does it start and how long does it last?

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer is presiding over the trial in New Mexico’s First District Court in Santa Fe.

The judge set the trial date for July 9-19. Jury selection was completed Tuesday and opening arguments began Wednesday. Trial arguments are expected to be completed by July 19, after which the case will be sent to the jury for deliberations.

Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom during jury selection, but the trial will be streamed live.

Will Alec Baldwin testify?

Baldwin’s lawyers have not said whether the actor will testify in his own defense. The actor is in court for trial and is expected to be present any day.

Who else is expected to make a statement?

The state’s witness list includes 44 names, while the defense lists 14 people as possible witnesses.

While prosecutors have accused the film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who convicted of manslaughter In that case, the judge ruled in June that she could not be compelled to testify against Baldwin, although she remained on the prosecution’s list of potential witnesses. She did not testify in her own defense.

The prosecution’s list of dozens of possible witnesses includes Joel Souza, the film’s director, who was also injured in the shooting, as well as several people who also also testified in the trial against Gutierrez-Reedsuch as Seth Kenney, who owned the prop gun company that supplied the ammunition for the film, Wyatt Mortenson, a stuntman on the film, and Gabrielle Pickle, a production manager.

The defense’s short list of potential witnesses includes David Halls, assistant director and security coordinator, Ryan Winterstern, a producer who also testified in Gutierrez-Reed’s trial, and other crew members.

Who is Halyna Hutchins, the victim?

The Los Angeles-based Hutchins42, was a self-described “restless dreamer” and “adrenaline junkie” who grew up on a remote Soviet military base. The Ukrainian-born cinematographer earned a degree in international journalism from Kyiv National University and graduated from the American Film Institute Conservatory. Widely considered a rising star, her credits include “Archenemy” with Joe Manganiello, “Blindfire” and “Darlin’,” which premiered at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival.

Baldwin announced in 2022 that he settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Hutchins family: her husband Matthew Hutchins and her son Andros.

Has anyone else been prosecuted in this case?

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the gunsmith who oversaw the firearms on set, was also charged with manslaughter. Although she pleaded not guiltyshe was sentenced in March and, after a trial overseen by the same judge who tried Baldwin’s case, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted of the charge of tampering with evidence.

Halls had previously pleaded guilty to improper handling of a firearm. Halls, who agreed to cooperate with the investigation into the shooting, received a six-month suspended sentence.

The production company of the film was Fine of $136,000the maximum penalty under state law, was sentenced by the New Mexico Office of Occupational Health and Safety for the incident.

Elise Preston, Kathleen Seccombe and The Associated Press contributed to this report.