SANTA FE, NM — The prosecutors tried Alec Baldwin as someone who disregards the rules and has little regard for safety in the workplace. first day of his trial in New Mexico when filming a cameraman.
Special Prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson repeatedly referred to Baldwin playing “fake-believe” with a revolver on the set of the film “Rust,” saying it led to very real danger and the deaths of Halyna Hutchinswho she described as “a vibrant 42-year-old rising star.”
Ocampo Johnson told jurors in her opening statement Wednesday that Baldwin “requested to be assigned the largest weapon available” and that during a training session for that, “he had people film him running around and firing this weapon.”
According to the prosecutor, the behind-the-scenes footage will show Baldwin carelessly ignoring basic firearm safety.
“You’re going to see him use this gun as a pointer to point at people, to point at things,” Ocampo Johnson said. “You’re going to see him cock the hammer when he shouldn’t be cocking the hammer, you’re going to see him put his finger on the trigger when his finger shouldn’t be on the trigger.”
The Death of Hutchins and the wounding of director Joel Souza nearly three years ago sent shockwaves through the film industry and led to Baldwin being charged with involuntary manslaughter, which could carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.
The process of the 66 year old star of “30 Rock” and frequent “Saturday Night Live” host continues Thursday with testimony from a forensic technician with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department.
At the beginning of the technician’s testimony, Marissa Poppell, jurors were able to see the revolver and the fired bullet from the shooting.
Baldwin’s attorney Alex Spiro stressed in his opening statement that Baldwin was only doing what actors always do.
“He has to be able to pick up that weapon and use it the way the person he’s playing would,” Spiro told the jury.
That includes pulling the trigger. Baldwin has said the gun went off accidentally, but Spiro said it still wouldn’t be manslaughter even if he fired it intentionally.
“On a film set you get to pull the trigger,” Spiro said.
Spiro called the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy” and said an “amazing person” died, but said responsibility lies with the film’s gunmaker, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who already convicted of involuntary manslaughterand from assistant director David Halls, who told Baldwin that the gun was “cold.”
“It was checked and double-checked by those responsible for the safety of the weapon,” Spiro said. “He did not tamper with it, he did not load it himself. He did not leave it unattended.”
The first witness to take the stand was Nicholas LeFleur, the first police officer to arrive at the Bonanza Creek Ranch set after the shooting. His body camera footage gave the jury a glimpse into the chaotic scene: a grim look at a seemingly unconscious Hutchins as LeFleur and others tried to revive her.
Later in the video, LeFleur is seen telling Baldwin not to talk to the other potential witnesses, but Baldwin repeatedly does so.
“Did Mr. Baldwin have to talk about the incident?” special prosecutor Kari Morrissey asked him.
“No, ma’am,” LeFleur replied.
“Does it look like he’s doing it anyway?” Morrissey asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” said LeFleur.
Among those in the gallery behind Baldwin watching the trial were his wife Hilaria Baldwin, his younger brother Stephen Baldwin and his older sister Elizabeth Keuchler, who shed a few tears at times during the trial.
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Dalton reported from Los Angeles.
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