Opening statements in Alec Baldwin trial for 'Rust' movie shooting begin: What to know
Nearly three years after the shooting death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Alec Baldwin is heading to trial for his alleged involvement in the movie-set tragedy.
Joined by his younger brother Stephen and wife Hilaria, Baldwin's trial got underway Wednesday in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with opening statements.
Jury selection took place on Tuesday, with 16 jurors — 11 women and five men — chosen.
The actor and producer was charged with involuntary manslaughter for the second time in January after previous charges against the 66-year-old actor had been dropped. He has pleaded not guilty.
Baldwin has denied responsibility for Hutchins' death, saying the gun went off on its own after he pointed it at the cinematographer and cocked it.
Here's everything you need to know.
Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' trial is underway: Live updates of the biggest revelations
When is Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' trial?
Baldwin's trial in the "Rust" shooting case began July 10. The trial is expected to run for eight days and conclude July 19.
The trial comes four months after "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for mistakenly loading a live round into the revolver involved in the shooting.
In April, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison — the same term Baldwin could face if found guilty.
Opening statements: Alec Baldwin's attorneys argue he acted like 'every other actor,' prosecutors allege he asked for 'biggest gun'
"It was obviously a tragic accident, but Alec committed no homicide," Baldwin's attorney Alex Spiro said in opening statements, stressing Baldwin's role as an actor. "Alec took the gun from those charged with its safety. He did not tamper. He did not load it himself. He did not leave it unattended. It completed his costume and his character. It was an actor handling a prop and integrating it into the character of Harlan Rust."
Spiro largely blamed "Rust" armorer Gutierrez and first assistant director Dave Halls for alleged negligence. "There were people responsible for firearms safety but actor Alec Baldwin committed no crime," said Spiro.
Prosecutor Erlinda Johnson said during opening statements: "The evidence will show that someone who played make believe with a real gun and violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety is the defendant, Alexander Baldwin."
Johnson also alleged Baldwin "requested to be assigned the biggest gun available" for the production.
What is Alec Baldwin charged with in 'Rust' trial?
Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Hutchins.
Baldwin received the manslaughter charge on Jan. 19, 2023, but that was dropped three months later after prosecutors said they wanted more time to examine evidence. He was charged again on Jan. 19, 2024.
The refiled charge came in part from new evidence alleging the gun's trigger had to have been pulled to fire the bullet that killed Hutchins.
What happened to Halyna Hutchins during 'Rust' shooting?
Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins during a rehearsal for the Western film in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
The shooting resulted in a series of civil lawsuits, including wrongful death claims filed by members of Hutchins' family, centered on accusations that the defendants were lax with safety standards.
In 2022, Baldwin and the production company behind "Rust" reached a settlement with Hutchins' family in their wrongful death lawsuit.
Alec Baldwin faces new lawsuit from Halyna Hutchins' parents, sister over 'Rust' shooting
Alec Baldwin files motion to dismiss manslaughter charge in 'Rust' trial
Baldwin's request to dismiss his involuntary manslaughter charge was denied last month.
Baldwin's legal team said prosecutors built their case around the unproven hypothesis that the gun that killed Hutchins was properly functioning and could not have gone off unless he pulled the trigger. Baldwin's lawyers also alleged the gun was damaged during testing by the FBI following Hutchins' death.
Will Hannah Gutierrez-Reed be called to testify at Alec Baldwin's trial?
New Mexico Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey has called Gutierrez-Reed "an incredibly important witness" against Baldwin.
During a June 21 hearing, Morrissey said she still might call the armorer to the stand, though the judge said it was clear from preliminary interviews and from her lawyer's arguments that Gutierrez-Reed would not answer questions on the stand.
In pre-trial interviews, Gutierrez-Reed claimed her constitutional right to remain silent and not incriminate herself when questioned on firearms safety failures leading up to the shooting.
Prosecutors had requested that Gutierrez-Reed get so-called use immunity, preventing them from using anything she says at Baldwin's trial against her. The prosecutors' request was denied.
Read more: 'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed denied immunity to testify at Alec Baldwin's trial
Will Alec Baldwin go to prison?
As an actor, Baldwin bears essentially no responsibility for Hutchins' death, experts say.
"If I'm out in the street and someone hands me a gun and I shoot it and injure someone, I'm negligent, but not so on a movie set where my only job is to act," entertainment attorney Tre Lovell told USA TODAY.
Much more likely is an effort by prosecutors to argue Baldwin as a producer is responsible for creating an atmosphere that led to the accidental death.
According to Rolling Stone and Fox News, Judge Mary Sommer ruled in a July 8 pretrial hearing that testimony about Baldwin's role as a producer on the film would not be allowed, arguing the "probative value is not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice and certainly confusion of issues to the jury."
Safety on the 'Rust' set: Western movie receives maximum fine for gun safety failures in Alec Baldwin shooting
Is 'Rust' still coming out?
A release date for "Rust" has not been announced.
Alec Baldwin trial TV: Will court be livestreamed?
Court TV and the Law & Crime Network will be livestreaming Baldwin's "Rust" trial on YouTube.
Contributing: Naledi Ushe, Marco della Cava and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY; Brad Brooks, Andrew Hay, Jonathan Allen and Donna Bryso, Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alec Baldwin trial begins for 'Rust' shooting: What to remember
