Alec Baldwin was accused of violating basic gun safety rules and playing "make-believe" with a deadly weapon, as the Hollywood star's trial for involuntary manslaughter over a fatal shooting on the set of the Western movie "Rust" began Wednesday. 
 
Baldwin was holding a prop revolver during the fateful rehearsal in October 2021 when it fired a live round, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding the movie's director.

He has said that he did not know the gun was loaded, and denies that he pulled the revolver's trigger.

But in opening statements at the Santa Fe court, prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson painted a picture of a powerful movie star who acted in "a reckless manner" and "without due regard for the safety of others" on set.

Baldwin played "make-believe with a real gun and violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety," Johnson told the jury.

She said Baldwin had "requested to be assigned the biggest gun available" for the "Rust" scene, had failed to take a gun training session seriously, and regularly cocked and pointed the gun at people on set.

"Movie set safety rules require actors like the defendant to treat every firearm as though it's loaded, to never point a firearm at another person, and to never put your finger on the trigger unless you're prepared to shoot," she told the jury.

- 'Gunfights in movies' - 
 
Baldwin, 66, could face up to 18 months in prison if found guilty.

The actor appeared in the courtroom in the southwestern state of New Mexico on Wednesday wearing a dark suit and tie, and chatted quietly with his wife Hilaria and brother Stephen before opening statements began.&nbsp;

His celebrity lawyer Alex Spiro -- whose other clients include Elon Musk and Jay-Z -- delivered a long opening statement rebutting the notion that normal gun safety rules apply for actors while performing roles.

"These cardinal rules? They're not cardinal rules on a movie set," said Spiro.

"You've all seen gunfights in movies," he told the jury, citing classics like "Platoon," "Apocalypse Now" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

"The reason that can happen is because safety is ensured before the actor" is handed the weapon, he said.

Spiro focused blame on the movie's safety officials, including armourer Hannah Gutierrez and first assistant director David Halls.

Gutierrez was convicted by the same court earlier this year and is serving an 18-month sentence. Halls pled guilty to negligence, under a deal to avoid prison.

Live bullets are banned from movie sets. Spiro also criticized police for failing to find the fatal bullet.&nbsp;

- Victim - 
 
Hutchins, the victim, was originally from Ukraine, and her career as a Hollywood cinematographer was thriving when she was killed, at the age of 42.

The tragedy occurred during a rehearsal in a small chapel on the Bonanza Creek Ranch, a historic location for Western movies, on a sunny afternoon mid-way through the filming of "Rust."

Baldwin was preparing for a scene in which his character, a grizzled outlaw trapped in the church by two marshals, brandishes his Colt six-shooter.

An earlier take of the scene was played on screens for jurors.

Spiro repeated that Baldwin was told the gun was "cold," meaning it was not loaded, and that he was instructed by Hutchins to aim the revolver toward her camera when it misfired.

An FBI report has contradicted part of Baldwin's story, concluding that the revolver could not have fired without its trigger being pulled.

Prosecutors will present witnesses including the gun's manufacturer to support that finding.

But those FBI tests damaged the weapon. Spiro told jurors that Baldwin was robbed of a chance to disprove the report's findings, even suggesting the damage was deliberate.

- Witnesses - 
 
The jury will hear testimony from witnesses including Halls, and prop firearms supplier Seth Kenney.

It is not yet known if Baldwin plans to take the stand in his defence. Legal experts say it would be a risky move, exposing the allegedly temperamental actor to hostile cross-examination.

Spiro has already warned jurors their feelings about Baldwin's high-profile career -- including his Donald Trump impersonations for "Saturday Night Live" -- cannot cloud their judgments.&nbsp;

The trial is scheduled to conclude Friday of next week. Jury deliberations could extend into the following week. 
 
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Alec Baldwin was accused of violating basic gun safety rules and playing "make-believe" with a deadly weapon, as the Hollywood star's trial for involuntary manslaughter over a fatal shooting on the set of the Western movie "Rust" began Wednesday.

Alec Baldwin was accused of violating basic gun safety rules and playing "make-believe" with a deadly weapon, as the Hollywood star's trial for involuntary manslaughter over a fatal shooting on the set of the Western movie "Rust" began Wednesday. Baldwin was holding a prop revolver during the fateful rehearsal in October 2021 when it fired a live round, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding the movie's director. He has said that he did not know the gun was loaded, and denies that he pulled the revolver's trigger. But in opening statements at the Santa Fe court, prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson painted a picture of a powerful movie star who acted in "a reckless manner" and "without due regard for the safety of others" on set. Baldwin played "make-believe with a real gun and violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety," Johnson told the jury. She said Baldwin had "requested to be assigned the biggest gun available" for the "Rust" scene, had failed to take a gun training session seriously, and regularly cocked and pointed the gun at people on set. "Movie set safety rules require actors like the defendant to treat every firearm as though it's loaded, to never point a firearm at another person, and to never put your finger on the trigger unless you're prepared to shoot," she told the jury. - 'Gunfights in movies' - Baldwin, 66, could face up to 18 months in prison if found guilty. The actor appeared in the courtroom in the southwestern state of New Mexico on Wednesday wearing a dark suit and tie, and chatted quietly with his wife Hilaria and brother Stephen before opening statements began. His celebrity lawyer Alex Spiro -- whose other clients include Elon Musk and Jay-Z -- delivered a long opening statement rebutting the notion that normal gun safety rules apply for actors while performing roles. "These cardinal rules? They're not cardinal rules on a movie set," said Spiro. "You've all seen gunfights in movies," he told the jury, citing classics like "Platoon," "Apocalypse Now" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." "The reason that can happen is because safety is ensured before the actor" is handed the weapon, he said. Spiro focused blame on the movie's safety officials, including armourer Hannah Gutierrez and first assistant director David Halls. Gutierrez was convicted by the same court earlier this year and is serving an 18-month sentence. Halls pled guilty to negligence, under a deal to avoid prison. Live bullets are banned from movie sets. Spiro also criticized police for failing to find the fatal bullet. - Victim - Hutchins, the victim, was originally from Ukraine, and her career as a Hollywood cinematographer was thriving when she was killed, at the age of 42. The tragedy occurred during a rehearsal in a small chapel on the Bonanza Creek Ranch, a historic location for Western movies, on a sunny afternoon mid-way through the filming of "Rust." Baldwin was preparing for a scene in which his character, a grizzled outlaw trapped in the church by two marshals, brandishes his Colt six-shooter. An earlier take of the scene was played on screens for jurors. Spiro repeated that Baldwin was told the gun was "cold," meaning it was not loaded, and that he was instructed by Hutchins to aim the revolver toward her camera when it misfired. An FBI report has contradicted part of Baldwin's story, concluding that the revolver could not have fired without its trigger being pulled. Prosecutors will present witnesses including the gun's manufacturer to support that finding. But those FBI tests damaged the weapon. Spiro told jurors that Baldwin was robbed of a chance to disprove the report's findings, even suggesting the damage was deliberate. - Witnesses - The jury will hear testimony from witnesses including Halls, and prop firearms supplier Seth Kenney. It is not yet known if Baldwin plans to take the stand in his defence. Legal experts say it would be a risky move, exposing the allegedly temperamental actor to hostile cross-examination. Spiro has already warned jurors their feelings about Baldwin's high-profile career -- including his Donald Trump impersonations for "Saturday Night Live" -- cannot cloud their judgments. The trial is scheduled to conclude Friday of next week. Jury deliberations could extend into the following week. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Alec Baldwin trial hears actor broke 'cardinal' safety rules for handling guns

As the trial began&nbsp;in the Rust shooting case with the jury listening to both sides, Alec Baldwin and his family saw drama unfold. In the Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter trial in Santa Fe, Mexico, special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson and Baldwin’s defence attorney Alex Spiro called it the “cardinal rule” of gun safety and “shiny object” respectively.&nbsp;

As Alec watched, Erlinda Johnson said that the actor should be held criminally liable in the death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Alec had accidentally fired a live shot at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died on the set of Rust.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-george-clooney-writes-scathing-op-ed-against-joe-bidens-candidacy-not-going-to-win-with-this-president-739683">George Clooney writes scathing op-ed against Joe Biden's candidacy: Not going to win with this president</a>

<h2>Rust shooting trial underway</h2>

Johnson told the court that Alec Baldwin “played make believe with a real gun and violated the cardinal rule of firearm safety. He pointed the gun at another human being, cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger in reckless disregard for Ms. Hutchins’ safety.” The prosecutor called the actor a reckless man with a gun.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Alec’s defence said that the jury should consider him something else. Spiro said the jury should consider him as “Harland Rust”. Harland is the name of the character from Alec Baldwin’s indie Western film Rust. Spiro said, “He’s an outlaw running for his life. His mind is somewhere else, in the being of another, a century away, an outlaw.”

Spiro then made references to films like King Kong, Superman, Platoon and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. “Movies and magic have always been closely associated,” Spiro said. “The evidence will show that guns are in movies because guns are in peoples’ lives.”

Spiro then pointed out that it wasn’t Alec Baldwin’s job to check the gun, that that responsibility belonged to assistant director Dave Halls and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. The defence attorney narrated footage of the scene the Rust crew were filming when Hutchins was shot.&nbsp;

As the trial began in the Rust shooting case with the jury listening to both sides, Alec Baldwin and his family saw drama unfold. In the Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter trial in Santa Fe, Mexico, special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson and Baldwin’s defence attorney Alex Spiro called it the “cardinal rule” of gun safety and “shiny object” respectively.

As the trial began in the Rust shooting case with the jury listening to both sides, Alec Baldwin and his family saw drama unfold. In the Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter trial in Santa Fe, Mexico, special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson and Baldwin’s defence attorney Alex Spiro called it the “cardinal rule” of gun safety and “shiny object” respectively. As Alec watched, Erlinda Johnson said that the actor should be held criminally liable in the death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Alec had accidentally fired a live shot at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died on the set of Rust. Also read: George Clooney writes scathing op-ed against Joe Biden's candidacy: Not going to win with this president Rust shooting trial underway Johnson told the court that Alec Baldwin “played make believe with a real gun and violated the cardinal rule of firearm safety. He pointed the gun at another human being, cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger in reckless disregard for Ms. Hutchins’ safety.” The prosecutor called the actor a reckless man with a gun. Meanwhile, Alec’s defence said that the jury should consider him something else. Spiro said the jury should consider him as “Harland Rust”. Harland is the name of the character from Alec Baldwin’s indie Western film Rust. Spiro said, “He’s an outlaw running for his life. His mind is somewhere else, in the being of another, a century away, an outlaw.” Spiro then made references to films like King Kong, Superman, Platoon and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. “Movies and magic have always been closely associated,” Spiro said. “The evidence will show that guns are in movies because guns are in peoples’ lives.” Spiro then pointed out that it wasn’t Alec Baldwin’s job to check the gun, that that responsibility belonged to assistant director Dave Halls and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. The defence attorney narrated footage of the scene the Rust crew were filming when Hutchins was shot.

Rust shooting case: Trial gets dramatic as Alec Baldwin's lawyers say checking gun wasn't his job

In another update on the Rust firing case, Alec Baldwin’s lawyers have filed two more motions to throw out his manslaughter indictment. The actor faces a trial in July on a charge of negligently causing the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. It so happened when the actor and others on the set were getting ready to film Rust in October 2021 when his Colt .45 fired and killed Halyna Hutchins.&nbsp;

In the same case, armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was sentenced last month to 18 months in prison for mistakenly loading a live bullet into the gun.&nbsp;

<h2>Alec Baldwin's lawyers argue that charges are not legally justified</h2>

In their latest motions, the actor's lawyers argue that the charge is not legally justified and that he has been deprived of a fair trial because the FBI broke the gun in the case during testing.&nbsp;

Alec Baldwin maintains that he did not pull the trigger and argues that the government’s actions did not let them show that the gun was not working properly at the time of the shooting. The lawyers told the court, “The government may not knowingly deprive the defense of potentially useful evidence by destroying it.”

Their lawyers argued that his actions did not meet the standard for involuntary manslaughter under New Mexico law.

<h2>A documentary on Rust on the way</h2>

Meanwhile, Rory Kennedy is making a documentary about Alec Baldwin and the Rust shooting. She is fighting a subpoena that would force her to turn over interview footage to the prosecutors in the case. Her company Moxie Films has been working on a documentary about the case for more than a year.

Her lawyers have argued that the subpoena amounts to a “fishing expedition,” and that it would be burdensome to comply. They also argued that the subpoena violates the California Shield Law, which protects journalists from being turned into “an investigative arm of the government.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/gisele-bundchen-has-been-deeply-disappointed-by-tom-bradys-roast-719390">Gisele Bündchen has been 'deeply disappointed' by Tom Brady's roast</a>

In another update on the Rust firing case, Alec Baldwin’s lawyers have filed two more motions to throw out his manslaughter indictment. The actor faces a trial in July on a charge of negligently causing the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

In another update on the Rust firing case, Alec Baldwin’s lawyers have filed two more motions to throw out his manslaughter indictment. The actor faces a trial in July on a charge of negligently causing the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. It so happened when the actor and others on the set were getting ready to film Rust in October 2021 when his Colt .45 fired and killed Halyna Hutchins. In the same case, armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was sentenced last month to 18 months in prison for mistakenly loading a live bullet into the gun. Alec Baldwin's lawyers argue that charges are not legally justified In their latest motions, the actor's lawyers argue that the charge is not legally justified and that he has been deprived of a fair trial because the FBI broke the gun in the case during testing. Alec Baldwin maintains that he did not pull the trigger and argues that the government’s actions did not let them show that the gun was not working properly at the time of the shooting. The lawyers told the court, “The government may not knowingly deprive the defense of potentially useful evidence by destroying it.” Their lawyers argued that his actions did not meet the standard for involuntary manslaughter under New Mexico law. A documentary on Rust on the way Meanwhile, Rory Kennedy is making a documentary about Alec Baldwin and the Rust shooting. She is fighting a subpoena that would force her to turn over interview footage to the prosecutors in the case. Her company Moxie Films has been working on a documentary about the case for more than a year. Her lawyers have argued that the subpoena amounts to a “fishing expedition,” and that it would be burdensome to comply. They also argued that the subpoena violates the California Shield Law, which protects journalists from being turned into “an investigative arm of the government.” Also read: Gisele Bündchen has been 'deeply disappointed' by Tom Brady's roast

Alec Baldwin files motions seeking dismissal of Rust trial again