Alec Baldwin jury views video of grim aftermath of Rust film set shooting

The jury in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial on Wednesday viewed harrowing footage depicting the aftermath of the shooting on a New Mexico film set and medics’ desperate efforts to treat cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The scene at the Bonanza Creek Ranch where the actor and crew were filming the western Rust was captured via body-camera footage from a New Mexico sheriff’s deputy who responded to the incident and testified in court this week.

Videos from the set and a 911 call played in the courtroom provided a dramatic start to the long-anticipated trial, which comes almost three years after the October 2021 shooting sent shock waves through Hollywood. Hutchins was killed and the director, Joel Souza, was injured after a weapon that Baldwin was holding – that, unbeknown to anyone on set, contained live ammunition – fired a single bullet.

The incident, the first shooting death on a Hollywood set since 1993, sent shockwaves through the industry and the trial is being closely followed by media outlets from around the world.

Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger, but prosecutors said that evidence shows he did so and that he violated “cardinal rules of firearm safety” while on set, and repeatedly had his finger on the hammer and trigger, and pointed the gun at people while filming.

In opening statements and in testimony from witnesses, prosecutors sought to portray an unsafe workplace on a tight budget with a lead actor who acted recklessly and placed others in danger.

“That gun the defendant had asked to be assigned worked perfectly fine, as it was designed,” prosecutor Erlinda Johnson said. “He pointed the gun at another human being, cocked the gun and pulled that trigger in reckless disregard for Ms Hutchins’ safety.”

Baldwin’s defense team, however, cast the blame on the film’s armorer and first assistant director, who were responsible for checking the gun. Baldwin was focused on his job on set – acting – and the people who were supposed to ensure the safety of the weapon failed to do so, defense attorney Alex Spiro told the jury on Wednesday.

“The evidence will show that on a movie set, safety has to occur before the gun is placed in an actor’s hands,” he said.

Baldwin has long denied pulling the trigger, but even if he did so, Spiro said, he would not be guilty of a crime. “On a movie set you’re allowed to pull the trigger, so even if he intentionally pulled the trigger, as prosecutors said, that doesn’t mean he committed a homicide.”

The jury this week has heard from law enforcement officers who first responded to the incident and a crime scene technician who testified she found several live rounds of ammunition on scene.

Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.