A New Mexico judge has ruled that Alec Baldwin’s role as a producer on the film “Rust” is not relevant to his involuntary manslaughter trial for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. This ruling is a setback for prosecutors who aimed to argue that Baldwin’s responsibilities as a producer contributed to the unsafe conditions that led to the incident. Instead, the trial will focus solely on Baldwin’s actions as an actor. This decision came just before the start of jury selection, with opening statements set for Wednesday.

Special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson unsuccessfully argued that Baldwin’s role as a producer made him “keenly aware” of safety obligations, hoping to bolster an alternative theory of guilt beyond negligent use of a firearm. The judge, however, decided that discussing Baldwin’s producer status could confuse the issues at hand, which should center on his conduct with the firearm. Baldwin, who attended the pre-trial hearing, listened intently and occasionally took notes.

The judge also ruled to exclude video evidence of Baldwin yelling at the crew or rushing them, but will allow videos showing Baldwin handling the gun on set. Prosecutors argue that these videos demonstrate Baldwin’s cavalier attitude towards gun safety, which is critical for establishing his alleged negligence. Baldwin’s defense, meanwhile, suggests that the gun may have malfunctioned, complicating the prosecution’s case.

Prosecutors will also present graphic images of Hutchins’ injuries from the autopsy report and police body camera footage from the immediate aftermath of the shooting. These pieces of evidence were admitted over objections from Baldwin’s defense team. Additionally, the judge excluded a state workplace safety investigation summary that largely blamed assistant director Dave Halls, who has already pleaded no contest to negligent use of a firearm.

The trial will not include discussions of other fatal gun incidents on movie sets, such as the death of actor Brandon Lee during the filming of “The Crow.” Baldwin’s attorneys argued successfully to bar these discussions, maintaining that it was inconceivable for live rounds to be on set. However, the judge will allow a single reference to the dangers of blank rounds without projectiles, acknowledging their potential lethality.

Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The incident occurred in October 2021 during a rehearsal for the film “Rust,” when Baldwin’s revolver discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin claims the gun fired accidentally after he pulled back the hammer, not the trigger, unaware that it contained a live round. The trial is set to last 10 days, with the judge aiming to keep proceedings focused on the specific actions that led to Hutchins’ death.

Sources: https://apnews.com/article/alec-baldwin-trial-rust-shooting-movie-7111ebd9d360a261eade601b5e4ec297

https://www.koat.com/article/alec-baldwin-trial-prosecutors-defense-witnesses/61533334