Sixteen jurors have been seated for Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico. Login or signup to continue reading Five men and 11 women were chosen on Tuesday by Santa Fe County special prosecutors and the actor's team of defence lawyers. Twelve will be designated as the jury and four as alternates by the court only after they hear the case.
They will be tasked with deciding whether Baldwin committed the felony when, during a rehearsal in October 2021, a revolver went off while he was pointing it at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. They were on the set of the Western film Rust, at Bonanza Creek Ranch some 30km from where the trial is being held. Opening statements are set to begin on Wednesday.
Media members were not allowed in the courtroom when lawyers used their challenges to strike jurors. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer swore in the jury, told them to avoid news about the case and to report Wednesday morning. Baldwin, 66, could get up to 18 months in prison if the jurors unanimously find him guilty.
The selection got off to a slow start on Tuesday with a delay of more than two hours due to technical problems, but the panel was selected in a single day as expected. When Marlowe Sommer asked the pool of 70 possible jurors if they were familiar with the case, all but two raised their hands to indicate they were. Two others indicated they would not be able to be fair and impartial and were excused.
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