Actor charged with involuntary manslaughter over 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on film set
Almost three years after the fatal shooting on the movie set of Rust, prosecutors began to lay out their case againstin a packed Santa Fe courtroom, painting a picture of an unsafe workplace on a tight budget with a lead actor who violated the “cardinal rules of firearm safety”.
The evidence will show the gun was functional, prosecutor Erlinda Johnson said, despite Baldwin’s statements that it had malfunctioned. But Baldwin failed to do a safety check and repeatedly violated set safety rules with the weapon by leaving his finger on the hammer and trigger, and pointing it at people on set while filming, she argued.
The defense argued in opening statements that Baldwin was focused on playing a character and was not responsible for checking the gun. Others on set were tasked with ensuring the weapon’s safety, defense attorney Alex Spiro said, namely the film’s armorer and first assistant director.“The evidence will show that on a movie set, safety has to occur before the gun is placed in an actor’s hands,” Spiro said.
Souza can be heard screaming in pain as medics attempt to treat him and Hutchins. The first responders advise Hutchins to take deep breaths and call her “good girl” as she lies with her arm over her head.
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