A jury of 12 New Mexico citizens has been chosen for Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial, which stems from the tragic shooting of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. The selection of the jurors, consisting of 11 women and five men, along with four alternates, now paves the way for opening statements by prosecutors and Baldwin’s attorneys from Quinn Emanuel. These statements are scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer’s Santa Fe County courtroom. The trial is expected to conclude by July 19, after which the jury will deliberate on a verdict.
Hutchins was killed, and “Rust” director Joel Souza was injured on October 21, 2021, when the Colt .45 that Baldwin was pointing at the cinematographer discharged a live round during a rehearsal at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe. Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in state prison on April 15, after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on March 6. However, no comprehensive explanation has yet been provided regarding how a live round ended up on the set of the independent Western film.
Recharged with involuntary manslaughter in January, exactly a year after initially being charged, Baldwin entered a not guilty plea shortly thereafter. In addition to this trial, Baldwin faces several civil cases in California and New Mexico courts related to the “Rust” shooting.
Baldwin, who could face up to 18 months in prison and significant fines if convicted, was present in the courtroom as lawyers reduced the pool of nearly 80 potential jurors. Despite achieving several significant legal victories recently, Baldwin attended a pre-trial motions hearing on Monday.
With attitudes toward guns, Hollywood, and Baldwin himself at the forefront, special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and defense attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro sought jurors without strong preconceptions. Judge Sommer commenced the day by asking a critical question: “How many of you have not seen or heard anything about this case from any source whatsoever?” The response indicated that very few jurors were entirely uninformed about the case.
“Rust” was resurrected early last year and completed filming in Montana, with Baldwin and Souza returning as star/producer and director, respectively. Although the film has been completed for months and was presented at the Cannes film market in mid-2023, it has not yet secured any buyers. Efforts to promote the film are being postponed until Baldwin’s trial concludes.
