SANTA FE, New Mexico, USA —
A protection lawyer advised jurors Wednesday that the capturing demise of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was a “horrible tragedy” however that “Alec Baldwin dedicated no crime; he was an actor, appearing.”
The actor’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, emphasised in his opening assertion in a Santa Fe, New Mexico, court docket that Baldwin, who’s dealing with trial for involuntary manslaughter, did precisely what actors at all times did on the set of the movie “Rust,” the place Hutchins was shot to demise in October 2021.
“I don’t need to inform you any extra about this since you’ve all seen the gun fights within the films,” Spiro mentioned.
Particular prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson argued in her opening assertion that Baldwin “violated cardinal guidelines of firearm security” by skipping security checks and recklessly dealing with a handgun within the moments earlier than the capturing.
“The proof will present that defendant Alexander Baldwin performed the idiot and violated the cardinal guidelines of firearm security,” Johnson mentioned.
Spiro responded that “these cardinal guidelines are usually not cardinal guidelines on a film set.”
“On a film set, security has to occur earlier than a gun is positioned in an actor’s hand,” Spiro advised jurors.
The primary witness to take the stand was the police officer who arrived on the property used as a movie set on the day of the incident. Physique digital camera footage performed in court docket from Santa Fe Police Division Officer Nicholas LeFleur captured the frantic efforts to avoid wasting Hutchins’ life.
The officer described the chaotic scene as involving greater than 100 folks, and mentioned he referred to as for an emergency helicopter as a result of “there have been only a few roads for an ambulance.”
Her hushed tone contrasted with the drama of the video, which confirmed Hutchins showing unconscious as a number of folks tended to her and fitted her with an oxygen masks. Within the courtroom, Baldwin stared somberly on the display because it performed.
