Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ fatal shooting trial set to begin in July
ByDebbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trial date set FILE - This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 23, 2021. On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, New Mexico workplace safety regulators issued the maximum possible fine against a film production company for firearms safety failures on the set of “Rust” where a cinematographer was fatally shot in October 2021 by actor and producer Alec Baldwin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
ByDebbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A New Mexico judge announced Monday that actor Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial for the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during filming of the Western movie “Rust,” is set for July 10.
Jury selection will begin July 9, and the trial is expected to last until July 19.
Hutchins was shot and killed on Oct. 21, 2021, when the reproduction Colt. 45 revolver Baldwin was rehearsing with fired a live round. The bullet also wounded the movie’s director, Joel Souza.
Baldwin was indicted on two counts – involuntary manslaughter, negligent use of a firearm, or, in the alternative, involuntary manslaughter without due caution or circumspection – on Jan. 19.
The trial for “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez began last week. Gutierrez, who is standing trial for involuntary manslaughter, allegedly brought the live Colt .45 round on set. According to prosecutors, she failed to realize the gun was loaded with a live round because of “sloppy and unprofessional” work. Gutierrez told police she loaded it into Baldwin’s gun, mistaking it for a dummy round.
Alec Baldwin 'Rust' Trial Date Set for Summer, Expected to Last 9 Days | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/G372dd25lK
On Monday, “Rust” camera crew member Ross Addiego cried as he told jurors of “the concussion, ears ringing, that moment of panic” as Baldwin’s gun fired and the first person he made eye contact with was Hutchins who was on the ground groaning.
“Miss Gutierrez Reed loaded a firearm that killed my friend,” said Addiego, adding that Gutierrez, first assistant director Dave Halls and Baldwin would skip firearms safety checks to try to meet daily production goals.
Gutierrez’s lawyer, Jason Bowles, asked Addiego if anyone raised the possibility with Baldwin of slowing filming after there were two accidental firearm discharges and film crew members walked off set over safety issues, The Associated Press reported.
“I don’t recall anyone standing up to Mr. Baldwin on that set,” Addiego said.
Baldwin was one of the producers and a writer on the movie.
Baldwin said in an interview with George Stephanopoulos in December 2021 that he did not fire the weapon after he cocked it and aimed it in Hutchins’s direction, but that the gun went off on its own.
According to Reuters, Baldiwn’s lawyers plan to file a motion for charges to be dismissed on grounds that a grand jury failed to follow certain rules when it reinstated charges against him in January that had already been dropped.
FBI firearms expert Bryce Ziegler testified on Monday that the weapon Baldwin had, an Italian-made Pietta revolver, would not fire when fully cocked without the trigger being pulled. Charges against Baldwin were dropped last year after new evidence suggested the hammer might have been modified allowing the gun to fire without the trigger being pulled.
Prosecutors called a grand jury to recharge Baldwin after an independent test of the single-action revolver confirmed the FBI’s findings that it would not discharge without a trigger pull.
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Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office responds to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set. (Luis Sanchez-Saturno//Santa Fe New Mexican via AP)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office responds to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set. (Luis Sanchez-Saturno/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say This aerial video image provided by KOAT 7 News shows the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office responding to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set. (KOAT 7 News via AP)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say An exterior view shows a lighted 'emergency' sign near the emergency entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film's star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say An exterior view shows the entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film's star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say An exterior view shows a sign directing patients to the emergency entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film's star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say An exterior view shows a sign directing patients to the emergency entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film's star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say Authorities identified the slain victim as Halyna Hutchins, a 42-year-old cinematographer, The Associated Press reported. She is shown here in a 2019 file photo. (Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say The film’s director, 48-year-old Joel Souza, was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries, officials said. He is shown here in a 2019 file photo. (Jim Spellman/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say In this Sept. 21, 2015, file photo, actor Alec Baldwin attends a news conference at United Nations headquarters. A prop firearm discharged by Baldwin, who is starring and producing a Western movie, killed his director of photography and injured the director Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, at the movie set outside Santa Fe, N.M., the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
