Alec Baldwin 's trial for involuntary manslaughter over a fatal shooting on the set of Western movie "Rust" got under way Tuesday with the selection of a jury who must decide if a crew member's death was his fault. The Hollywood A-lister was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal in 2021 when it fired a live round, killing her and wounding the movie's director. Baldwin, 66, says he did not know the gun was loaded and did not pull the trigger.
Prosecutors say he acted recklessly on set and has repeatedly changed his story since the tragic event, which happened nearly three years ago. After multiple attempts by Baldwin's lawyers to have the case thrown out all failed, the matter will now be settled at a courthouse in Santa Fe, in the southwestern state of New Mexico. Jury selection got under way Tuesday morning.
Underlining the challenges inherent to high-profile cases, only a couple of the dozens of potential jurors raised their hands when asked by the judge if they had not previously heard or read anything about the "Rust" shooting. Due to the "30 Rock" actor's immense fame, and the rarity of on-set deaths, the story has garnered global attention while sharply polarizing public opinion. Sympathetic observers view Baldwin as a victim who has been pursued by prosecutors in part due to his status as a celebrity and liberal darling.
Others see the death as the easily avoidable result of a movie star's allegedly unpredictable behaviour during filming..