Baldwin 'Pretended' with Gun, Rust Trial Hears

The trial of Alec Baldwin began in New Mexico today with the prosecution and defence painting starkly different pictures of the events leading up to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Mr Baldwin, known for roles on the sitcom 30 Rock and portraying Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, is facing up to 18 years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Ms. Hutchins, 42, died after a gun Mr. Baldwin was rehearsing with discharged. It was determined that the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, had accidentally mixed up dummy bullets with live ammunition she had brought from home. Mr. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty, maintaining that he never pulled the trigger when the gun went off.

In their opening statements, the defense depicted Mr. Baldwin as an actor doing his job, relying on a crew responsible for ensuring weapon safety. Prosecutors, however, argued that he showed a blatant disregard for gun safety on a low-budget film set with an inexperienced cast.

Prosecutor Erlinda Johnson began the trial by telling the jury that the case was "simple" and "straightforward." She argued that Mr. Baldwin "played make-believe with a real gun" and "violated the cardinal rules of firearms safety." She emphasized that while it was a movie set, it was a real workplace for many people, noting the tight budget and the inexperience of some crew members.

Mr. Baldwin's defense team argued that firearms are managed differently on film sets, with each cast member having specific roles and responsibilities, including safety. Baldwin's lawyer, Alex Spiro, said, "He was just acting as he's done for generations, and it was the safety apparatus that failed them all." Spiro asserted, "Alec Baldwin committed no crime," emphasizing that Baldwin was "an actor handling a prop."

He claimed that the crew members responsible for safety, including Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls, did not fulfill their duties. "Real bullets are never supposed to be on movie sets," Spiro concluded.

Both Halls and Gutierrez-Reed faced charges in the fatal shooting.

Halls has pleaded guilty to unsafe handling of a firearm and Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year, and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

A key issue during the trial is Mr Baldwin's claim that he did not pull the trigger when the revolver he was holding went off.

Prosecutors took aim at the claim early, detailing the extensive FBI tests done on the weapon.