Alec Baldwin Rust shooting trial begins: Jury hears 911 call after cinematographer’s death

Opening statements have been heard in court, where the actor’s facing up to 18 months’ jail if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Alec Baldwin has arrived at court in New Mexico where he is being supported by his wife, Hilaria, and famous brother, Stephen, as his involuntary manslaughter trial gets underway.

Baldwin, 66, faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted in the October 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, on the set of Rust.

His trial comes after Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March.

“Mr Baldwin, are you feeling confident in your arguments today?” a member of the media asked as he walked into the Santa Fe courthouse, but the actor remained silent.

However, Hutchins’ family’s lawyers, Gloria Allred, held a mini press conference as she arrived, where she emphasised that the late cinematographer was “killed by the gun that Alec Baldwin was holding.”

“We would like truth. We would like justice,” she told the media.

Baldwin was silent as he arrived ahead of opening statements. Picture: Frederic J. Brown / AFP

Prosecution’s opening statements

Special prosecutor Erlinda Johnson began the opening statements in Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial at 9.14am local time.

“It’s simple, straightforward,” she told the jury of the case. “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.”

The trial began July 9 with jury selection following years of back-and-forth between the prosecution and Baldwin’s legal team. The prosecution has largely accused Baldwin of being “reckless” on the Western film set in the days leading up to Hutchins’ death.

Meanwhile, Baldwin’s lawyers accused Morrissey of only charging the actor to “humble” him because “she finds him ‘arrogant’ and wants to give him a ‘teachable moment,’” in court documents previously obtained by Fox News Digital.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of Rust. Picture: Instagram

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, former armourer for the movie Rust, was convicted in March. Picture: Luis Sanchez Saturno – Pool/Getty Images

Johnson also revealed witnesses claimed Baldwin put his finger “on or around” the trigger of the F. LLI Pietta Long Colt 45 Revolver he was holding before the fatal shooting on the set of Rust.

“The defendant takes [the gun] out quickly the first time pointed – and you will hear witness testimony who will tell you the first time he does it his finger is on or around the trigger,” Johnson told the jury. “He does it again. Takes it out very fast, points it, and once again you will hear testimony that his finger was on or around the trigger. And the evidence will show that that third and fatal time, he takes it out once again, fast, cocks the hammer, pointed straight at Mrs. Hutchins and fires that gun.”

However, Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the gun on October 21, 2021.

“I didn’t pull the trigger,” the actor told George Stephanopoulos in December 2021. “I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them. Never.”

Baldwin during his hearing. Picture: Ross D. Franklin/Pool/AFP

Baldwin’s lawyer: Actor ‘committed no crime’

Baldwin’s lawyer Alex Spiro began the defence’s opening statements around 9.30am local time.

“This was an unspeakable tragedy,” Spiro told the jury. “But Alec Baldwin committed no crime. He was an actor. Actor playing the role of Harlan Rust. An actor playing a character can act in ways that are lethal, that just aren’t lethal on a movie set. These cardinal rules, they’re not cardinal rules on a movie set.”

Spiro emphasised that Baldwin’s role on the Rust movie set was not to ensure safety.

“Those people failed in their duties, but Alec Baldwin committed no crime,” he claimed.

lawyer emphasised the fatal Rust shooting was not “foreseeable” as opening statements continued.

Spiro explained that Baldwin did not know a live bullet even existed on the Western film set in October 2021.

“No one had any idea that it was on that set or in that gun in that world,” he explained. “They were all in it together.”

Spiro focused on a few questions that remain unanswered, “Why there was a live bullet on set, why the armourer placed it in the gun, and of course, why the head of safety failed to detect it.”

“None of it speaks to whether Alec knew or should have known those things. He didn’t. No one on that set did,” Spiro added. “It was not foreseeable.”

Actor Stephen Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin, wife of Alec Baldwin, were there for support. Picture: Ross D. Franklin/Pool/AFP

911 call made immediately after Rust shooting played in court

Baldwin’s lawyer also played the 911 call that was made on the set of Rust during his opening statements.

Spiro explained the actor’s reaction immediately after the gun went off to the jury. “He immediately says, I didn’t I didn’t mean to shoot. I didn’t pull trigger. Immediately.”

“Shock turns to panic,” he added. “911 is called.”

The audio of the call was then played.

“Out at Bonanza Creek Ranch right now, we’ve had two people shot on a movie set accidentally,” the caller told the operator. “You said someone was shot?” the operator asked.

“Two people accidentally, with gunshots … on movie set at Bonanza Creek Creek Ranch,” the caller repeated.

When connected with medical, the caller repeated: “Bonanza Creek Ranch has two people accidentally shot on a movie set by a prop gun. We need help immediately.”

The caller then went on to blame the assistant director. The script supervisor can be heard saying, “That f**king AD.” She later adds, “He’s responsible.”

More to come.

This article originally appeared in Fox News and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Alec Baldwin Rust shooting trial begins: Jury hears 911 call after cinematographer’s death