Alec Baldwin was accused of “reckless” on-set behaviour during the prosecution’s opening statement in his ‘Rust’ shooting trial. The ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ actor, 66, faced his first day in front of a jury on Wednesday (10.07.
24) in New Mexico, and stands accused of involuntary manslaughter after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, was killed on the set of neo-Western movie ‘Rust’ in New Mexico in 2021. Special prosecutor Erlinda Johnson told jurors about how Alec’s alleged behaviour on set contributed to the accidental death of Halyna: “When someone plays make-believe with a real gun in a real-life workplace, and while playing make-believe with that gun violates the cardinal rules of firearm safety, people’s lives are endangered and someone could be killed. “Ladies and gentlemen, that’s what this case is about.
It’s simple and straightforward. “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.” Alec was holding a prop gun while rehearsing a scene on the set of ‘Rust’ when it discharged, killing mother-of-one Halyna and injuring the film’s 51-year-old director Joel Souza.
Alec insists he did not pull the trigger or know why the gun contained live ammunition, and has pleaded not guilty to one charge of involuntary manslaughter. He faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted. Prosecutor Ms Johnson added in her opening statemen.
