The trial of actor Alec Baldwin in the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is scheduled to commence on Tuesday with the selection of jurors who will determine whether Baldwin is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The incident occurred during a rehearsal for the film 'Rust' in October 2021 at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico.
Baldwin, 66, could face up to 18 months in prison if found guilty of the felony. He has maintained that the gun fired accidentally while he was following instructions to point it at Hutchins, resulting in her tragic death and the injury of director Joel Souza.
During a pretrial hearing, Judge Mary Marlowe Summer ruled that Baldwin's role as a co-producer on the film is not relevant to the trial. The judge emphasized the importance of expediting jury selection and anticipates opening statements to begin promptly.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey expressed skepticism about the defense's ability to select a jury in one day, while Baldwin's attorney, Alex Spiro, expressed confidence in their ability to do so.
Jury selection is set to take place on Tuesday, with dozens of prospective jurors being questioned. The trial is expected to last nine days, with jurors receiving the case at the conclusion of the proceedings.
Prosecutors had sought to emphasize Baldwin's safety obligations on the film set to support an alternative theory of guilt, but the judge ruled against including certain evidence. However, the prosecution secured permission to present graphic images from Hutchins' autopsy and police lapel camera footage during the treatment of her injuries.
The trial is closely watched as it unfolds, with updates available for those following the case closely.
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