Opening statements in Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial began with the prosecution telling jurors that the Hollywood star ignored gun safety precautions before shooting and killing a cinematographer on the set of “Lust.”
“When people play house with real guns, they ignore basic gun safety rules … and people die,” special prosecutor Erlinda Johnson said in a Santa Fe courtroom on Wednesday.
The high-profile trial began with jury selection on Tuesday, and the judge said the case is expected to go to the jury after just nine days of testimony.
It’s been nearly three years since a rehearsal for a shootout scene in a Western ended tragically when Baldwin’s prop gun accidentally went off. Cinematographer Halina Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.
Baldwin, 66, claims he did not pull the trigger, did not know the gun was loaded with live ammunition and claims he fired it accidentally.
He has been charged with one felony count of manslaughter in connection with the October 2021 incident and could face up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
Baldwin arrived at the courthouse in Santa Fe accompanied by his wife, Hilaria, his youngest son, and his brother, Stephen.
The trial began when Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the weapons maker for the film, He was convicted of manslaughter in April. He was sentenced to the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.
Opening statements are over and the court is in recess.
Opening statements in Baldwin’s trial have concluded and court is now in its morning recess.
Andrea CavalierJuly 10, 2024 17:38
Defense argues Baldwin was sure the gun was “cold”
Spiro told jurors that cast and crew were repeatedly assured that Baldwin’s gun was “cold.”
A cold gun doesn’t mean it doesn’t have live ammunition, he explained to jurors. “It just means there aren’t any blanks or even dummy rounds in the gun. It means the gun is inert and can’t do any harm. It can’t hurt anyone,” he said.
Spiro also said the atmosphere on set that day was calm.
“Nobody knew that this toxic, poisonous substance had been mixed into the magic they were creating, but it did,” he said. “It got in there and it killed a great man, it injured another, and it changed people’s lives forever.”
He then explained the roles of those who were on set, alleging that the blame rests with the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reid, and the set’s first assistant director, David Hall.
“Everyone on a film set has a role: the armorer puts on the armor, the director directs, and the actor acts,” he says. “They work in harmony, but the responsibilities are shared.”
Defense lawyers argue Alec Baldwin committed no crime
One of Baldwin’s lawyers, Alex Spiro, is now speaking out.
He told jurors that the shooting death of Hutchins was “an unspeakable tragedy, but Alec Baldwin committed no crime.”
“You have to take a step back and remember what it was that you did on a movie set. Movies and magic have always gone hand in hand for decades across this country,” he said.
Spiro focused on how live ammunition got onto the set of “Lust,” arguing there was no evidence that Baldwin had anything to do with the loaded gun.
“He was an actor, he was acting, he was playing the part of Harlan Rust,” he said. “Actors who play characters can do things that are not lethal on a movie set. Those are ground rules that are not ground rules on a movie set.”
Prosecutors say Baldwin pulled the trigger
Johnson told jurors that during the trial they would see video footage of Baldwin using a gun at the shooting scene.
“The defendant appears on video to have used this firearm at the scene on multiple occasions, and each time the firearm was in working order,” Johnson said.
“Indeed, you will hear evidence that the defendant himself admitted in December 2021 that there were no mechanical issues with the gun.”
This comes after Baldwin said he did not pull the trigger the day Hutchins was shot.
Johnson also said the gun had been repeatedly examined by FBI forensic experts who determined it was in good working order with no defects.
Baldwin failed to conduct safety checks
Prosecutors told jurors that Baldwin failed to conduct regular safety checks with weapons maker Hannah Gutierrez Reid on the set of “Lust.”
Johnson said Baldwin was filmed “running around and shooting the gun” during mandatory gun safety training.
She also said she “didn’t want to upset” Gutierrez-Reed by checking every gun he handed over.
“One of the bullets in that revolver was found to be genuine and the evidence will show that Ms. Gutierrez provided the gun to the defendant,” Johnson said.
“And you will find that the defendant once again failed to have this gun safety checked by the gun warden.”
Prosecutors say Baldwin demanded to be given the “biggest gun.”
Prosecutor Johnson said Baldwin had asked to be given “the biggest gun” for the film.
She told jurors in opening statements they would hear evidence that the firearm was sold to “Last” Set in “perfect” working order.
Attorney Gloria Allred speaks before the trial
Gloria Allred, an attorney for Halina Hutchins’ parents and sister, spoke before the trial.
The prosecution opens
Special Counsel Erlinda Johnson began her opening statement.
“When someone plays pretend with a real gun.
And that person is ignoring basic gun safety rules…People are dying.”
Johnson said “The Last” had a tight budget and its staff was inexperienced.
Stephen Baldwin sits behind his brother Alec Baldwin in the courtroom.
Alec Baldwin’s brother, actor Stephen Baldwin, sat behind him in court on Wednesday.
Opening statements are scheduled to begin shortly.
Day 2 of Alec Baldwin’s trial begins
The Alec Baldwin trial resumed for a second day in Santa Fe. Jurors were selected on Tuesday.
Baldwin is in court and opening statements are expected to begin shortly.
The transcript can be streamed live here:
Andrea CavalierJuly 10, 2024 15:49
